FL H1367

Requires the State Board of Education to adopt a statewide attendance policy (replacing individual district school board policies), including guidance on excused/unexcused absences, early identification of chronically absent students, and attendance reporting requirements at least four times per year

Defines new statutory terms including "absence" (not in attendance for any reason, excused or not), "chronically absent" (absent at least 10% of school days after the first 45 days of enrollment), "excused absence," "unexcused absence," and "day of attendance"

Prohibits out-of-school suspensions as punishment for a student's attendance record, and requires that absences resulting from an out-of-school suspension be reported as excused absences

Requires schools to inform parents of chronically absent students about the student's attendance history, the impact of absences on academic outcomes, available interventions, and how to access a choice navigator to explore alternative educational environments

Shifts attendance enforcement responsibilities from school child study teams to school principals, who must implement escalating interventions including parent communication, attendance contracts, evaluation for alternative programs, and potential referral for truancy petitions or criminal prosecution