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H 667

An Act relative to school absences

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Alice Peisch

Summary of H 667: An Act Relative to School Absences Purpose and IntentThis bill seeks to update the state's policies and requirements around student absences from school. The main

Read second and ordered to a third reading
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Bill Summary · H 667

Summary of H 667: An Act Relative to School Absences

Purpose and Intent

This bill seeks to update the state's policies and requirements around student absences from school. The main goals are to:

  1. Provide more flexibility for excused absences to accommodate student and family needs.
  2. Improve tracking and intervention for chronic absenteeism to support student success.
  3. Ensure equitable application of attendance policies across school districts.

Key Provisions

  • Excused Absences: The bill expands the list of valid reasons for an excused school absence to include:
    • Illness, injury, or medical appointment
    • Bereavement or family emergency
    • Religious observance
    • College/career visits
    • Legal/court obligations
    • Approved school activities
  • Chronic Absenteeism: Schools must track and report data on students who miss 10% or more of school days, known as "chronically absent." This triggers targeted interventions to identify and address barriers to attendance.
  • Attendance Policies: Districts must adopt written attendance policies that are applied consistently. These policies must be made publicly available and communicated to students and families.
  • Enforcement: The state education department will monitor district attendance policies and data to ensure equitable implementation across schools.

Impact

This bill would affect all K-12 public school students and their families across the state. It aims to reduce barriers to school attendance, particularly for disadvantaged students, while strengthening systems to address chronic absenteeism.

By expanding excused absences and improving attendance tracking and interventions, the bill seeks to improve overall student engagement and academic outcomes. Consistent statewide policies are also intended to promote fairness and prevent disproportionate disciplinary measures related to attendance.

Timeline

  • The bill was introduced in the state legislature on February 27, 2025.
  • It has passed a second reading and is now ordered for a third reading.
  • If passed by the legislature and signed into law, the new attendance policies would take effect starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

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

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