HB3139 Summary

• Defines chronic absence as absences totaling 10% or more of school days in an academic year, including absences with and without valid cause and out-of-school suspensions.

• Requires all school districts, charter schools, alternative schools, and schools receiving public funds to collect and review chronic absence data beginning July 1, 2018, analyzing data by individual attendance centers or campuses.

• Encourages schools to develop support systems for students at risk of chronic absence using strategies available through the Illinois Multi-tiered Systems of Support Network and the State Board of Education's Family Engagement Framework.

• Exempts students with documented homebound or hospital records from chronic absence reporting requirements.

• Makes chronic absence reporting requirements (Section 26-18) applicable to charter schools by adding it to the list of non-School Code provisions that charter schools must comply with.