Texas House Bill HB82

Texas 2021 - 87th 2nd C.S.

Caption

Relating to excused absences from public school for certain students to visit a professional's workplace for a career investigation day.

Impact

The bill modifies Section 25.087 of the Education Code, integrating provisions relevant to students’ attendance records. Specifically, students excused under this new subsection must not face penalties for their absence and will still be counted as present in terms of average daily attendance calculations. This change aims to promote engagement in career-related activities without negatively impacting students' academic standing or attendance records. The impact is designed not only to enhance academic performance but also to bolster students' readiness for post-secondary education and the workforce.

Summary

House Bill 82 introduces provisions for excused absences from public schools to allow students in their junior and senior years to visit a professional's workplace. This initiative aims to encourage career exploration among high school students by providing real-world insights into various professions. Schools are permitted to excuse students for up to two days during each of their junior and senior years specifically for this purpose. To ensure clear guidelines, districts must adopt a policy detailing how such absences will be excused along with a procedure for verifying the workplace visit.

Contention

While the intent of HB 82 is to bolster career exploration, potential points of contention may arise surrounding the implementation of the excused absence policy. Schools may differ in how they adopt these policies, leading to disparities in access among students based on district resources or administrative philosophies. Opponents may argue that limiting absences for workplace visits could detract from other essential educational activities, potentially leading to varied educational outcomes based on socioeconomic status. These elements reflect broader discussions within education on balancing career preparation with academic requirements.