TN HB1823

Directors of schools must report absences to juvenile court judges when students receiving tier two or tier three truancy interventions withdraw from a school district without transferring to another district

Judges may fine parents or guardians up to $50 or assign community service if a K-12 student is adjudicated unruly for accumulating 5 or more unexcused absences in a school year

Unexcused absences must follow students when they transfer between schools or districts during the school year, with the receiving school counting prior absences toward truancy thresholds

Juvenile court referrals must include certification from the director of schools that progressive truancy interventions were applied and the student withdrew without enrolling elsewhere

Effective date: July 1, 2026