Relating to excused absences from public school for the purpose of visiting an institution of higher education.
Impact
The bill is poised to impact the way school districts manage student attendance, enabling them to adopt policies for excused absences related to college visits. Schools will be required to create a procedure to verify these visits as part of the new policy guidelines. This change not only allows students the flexibility to explore higher education opportunities but also aims to increase graduation rates and future college attendance by providing students with valuable experiences during their high school years.
Summary
House Bill 3136 aims to amend the Education Code concerning the excused absences of students from public schools for the purpose of visiting institutions of higher education. Specifically, it permits school districts to excuse students during their junior and senior years for up to two days in their junior year and four days in their senior year to facilitate such visits. The intent behind this legislation is to encourage high school students to explore and engage with potential colleges and universities, thereby fostering a clearer understanding of post-secondary education options.
Contention
Although the bill's primary focus is on promoting students' opportunities, it could raise questions among educators, parents, and policymakers about how to balance academic responsibilities with college exploration. There may be concerns regarding the implementation of policies at the district level, including how absences are verified and the potential for misuse of excused absence provisions. Some may argue that even a limited number of excused absences could affect students' academic performance or lead to inequities in access to college visits among different student populations.