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PA SB984
Bill
Status
8/27/2025
Primary Sponsor
Tracy Pennycuick
Click for details
AI Summary
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Cyber charter schools must establish attendance policies requiring students to be visible on camera during synchronous instruction and meet weekly coursework benchmarks for asynchronous instruction, with benchmarks submitted to the Department of Education for approval by June 30 each year
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Habitually truant students are prohibited from transferring mid-school year to virtual instruction or cyber charter schools unless a judge determines the transfer is in the child's best interest and the student cannot comply with in-person attendance requirements
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Schools must notify parents within 10 school days of a child's third unexcused absence and provide information about state and local resources for returning the child to compliant attendance
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Cyber charter school administrators are prohibited from altering teacher attendance records unless correcting a good-faith error, and school officials who knowingly falsify attendance reports to the department commit a third-degree misdemeanor
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Department of Education must post quarterly reports on compulsory attendance enforcement and, in coordination with the Department of Human Services, develop programs and best practices to prevent truancy
Legislative Description
In pupils and attendance, further providing for attendance policy at charter, regional charter and cyber charter schools, for procedure when child is truant, for procedure by school when child habitually truant, for procedure upon filing of citation and for penalties for violating compulsory school attendance requirements, repealing provisions relating to study of truancy procedure, providing for department supports to prevent truancy and further providing for reports to Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Last Action
Referred to Education
8/27/2025