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Bill

HB 2594

An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, further providing for attendance policy at charter, regional charter and cyber charter schools, for excuses from attending school, for procedure when child is truant, for procedure by school when child habitually truant and for penalties for violating compulsory school attendance requirements.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Marc Anderson and 11 co-sponsors

The bill standardizes and strengthens attendance policies for charter, regional charter, and cyber charter schools, including truancy procedures and penalties.

Referred to Education
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2594

Overview

HB 2594 (Session 2025-2026, Pennsylvania) would amend the Public School Code of 1949 to modify requirements related to attendance, truancy, and penalties for charter, regional charter, and cyber charter schools. The bill focuses on attendance policies, excuses from attendance, procedures for addressing truancy, and penalties for noncompliance.

Purpose and intent

  • To clarify and strengthen the attendance framework for charter, regional charter, and cyber charter schools.
  • To standardize procedures for excusing absences, addressing truancy, and enforcing compulsory attendance requirements.
  • To align charter-related attendance practices with the broader Public School Code framework and ensure consistent enforcement across charter settings.

Key provisions and changes

Note: The summary reflects the bill’s areas of focus as described in the title and sponsor materials. If enacted, the bill could include, among other provisions:

  • Attendance policy requirements for charter, regional charter, and cyber charter schools:
    • Establishing or updating the standards for student attendance policies.
    • Defining how attendance is tracked, recorded, and reported in these schools.
  • Excuses from attending school:
    • Criteria and processes for issuing excuses (legitimate reasons) for student absences.
    • Requirements for documentation and parental notification.
  • Procedures when a child is truant:
    • Defined truancy thresholds and triggers for intervention.
    • Steps schools must take when a student meets truancy criteria (e.g., notification, meetings, development of attendance improvement plans).
  • Procedures by the school when a child habitually truant:
    • Specific actions for habitual truancy, potentially including targeted interventions, referrals, or reporting to appropriate authorities.
    • Timelines and documentation requirements for habitual truancy cases.
  • Penalties for violating compulsory attendance requirements:
    • Sanctions or penalties for noncompliance by students, parents/guardians, or schools.
    • Mechanisms for enforcement and potential remedies or appeals.
  • Administrative and reporting provisions:
    • Requirements for annual or periodic reporting on attendance, truancy, and enforcement outcomes.
    • Possible alignment with existing truancy data collection in traditional public schools.

Who would be affected

  • Students enrolled in charter schools, regional charter schools, and cyber charter schools.
  • Parents/guardians responsible for ensuring attendance and complying with excusal procedures.
  • Charter school administrators and staff responsible for implementing attendance policies, documenting excused absences, and managing truancy interventions.
  • School districts and authorities responsible for overseeing compliance, enforcement, and reporting.
  • Potentially, courts or enforcement bodies involved in penalties or remedy processes for habitual truancy or noncompliance.

Procedural and timeline considerations

  • The bill would amend the Public School Code, requiring implementation of updated attendance policies and procedures by charter, regional charter, and cyber charter schools.
  • It may establish timelines for:
    • Adopting or updating attendance policies.
    • Implementing truancy intervention steps.
    • Reporting data to districts or state authorities.
    • Enforcing penalties for violations.
  • The changes could necessitate corresponding administrative guidance or regulations to ensure uniform application across charter schools.
  • Potential transitional provisions to align existing policies with new requirements.

Potential impact

  • Greater consistency in attendance management across charter settings.
  • Clearer processes for excused absences and truancy interventions.
  • Tighter enforcement of compulsory attendance, with defined penalties for violations.
  • Increased data reporting and accountability for charter schools.

Notes

  • The summary is based on the bill’s title and sponsor description. For precise language, definitions, specific thresholds for truancy, exact penalties, and implementation timelines, the full text of HB 2594 should be consulted.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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