SB 0338 Summary

• Establishes a commission to study and evaluate student absenteeism issues, including definitions of excused and unexcused absences, effectiveness of court-supervised educational programs, and evidence-based practices for reducing absenteeism.

• Redefines "chronic absenteeism" as absence for 10% or more of a school year for any reason (changed from more than 10 unexcused days) and "habitual truancy" as 10 or more days absent without excuse or parental request filing.

• Directs the Department of Education to make absenteeism reduction a policy priority and require school corporations to identify contributing factors and develop chronic absence reduction plans as part of school improvement plans.

• Requires school improvement plans to include objectives for improving attendance rates and addressing educational needs of chronically absent or habitually truant students, with exemptions for schools in the top improvement category.

• Amends school accountability reporting requirements to include data on chronic absenteeism and habitual truancy, effective July 1, 2013.