IL HB5771

Amends the School Code to add Section 26-19 addressing chronic absenteeism in preschool children, effective July 1, 2019.

Requires publicly funded early childhood programs receiving State funds under Section 2-3.71 to collect and review chronic absence data beginning July 1, 2019, and determine what support and resources are needed to engage chronically absent students and families.

Encourages early childhood programs to provide support to at-risk students, make family resources available through the State Board of Education's Family Engagement Framework, and include information about chronic absenteeism in preschool-to-kindergarten transition resources.

Requires programs to report all chronic absence data annually to the State Board of Education on or before July 1, 2020, and each year thereafter, with reports made publicly available through the Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map website and preschool program reports.

Establishes legislative findings that early years are critical for learning and development, and that attendance patterns in preschool predict chronic absenteeism and educational outcomes in later school years.