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HB 2103

Including participation in certain learning experiences and agricultural activities as a valid excuse for absence from school and authorizing school boards to make rules therefor.

2025-2026 Regular Session

HB 2103 lets districts excuse pre-approved learning experiences (agriculture, FFA, 4-H) as valid absences, with limits, staff approval, and potential truancy reductions.

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Bill Summary · HB 2103

HB 2103 — Summary (Kansas, introduced Jan 27, 2025)

Main purpose

HB 2103 amends K.S.A. 72-3121 to explicitly allow participation in pre‑approved “learning experiences” — including certain agricultural activities — to be treated as a valid excuse for school absence. It authorizes local boards of education to adopt rules governing such absences, including numerical limits.

Key provisions

  • Amends K.S.A. 72-3121 (attendance/truancy statute) to add language about absences “related to participation in a learning experience.”
  • Requires each board of education to adopt rules that:
    • Define what constitutes a valid excuse for absence and what is a “significant part of a school day”; and
    • May limit the number of absences that may be approved for learning experiences.
  • States that a “learning experience” approved in advance by the designated school employee is a valid excuse.
  • Provides examples (not exhaustive) of learning experiences: agricultural science activities, scheduled Future Farmers of America (FFA) events not otherwise excused by district policy, and 4‑H programs that are part of organized competitions or events.
  • Keeps and clarifies existing attendance procedures:
    • Boards must designate employees responsible for approving excuses and for reporting attendance issues (including truancy reporting to the Department for Children and Families or appropriate county/district attorney).
    • Notice and reporting requirements (e.g., written notice to parents, triggers for reporting a child as not attending school) remain in force and apply consistent with the statute’s other subsections.

Who is affected

  • Students participating in agricultural/FFA/4‑H or similar structured learning experiences may have absences excused when pre‑approved.
  • Local boards of education and school districts must adopt or revise attendance policies and designate staff to approve learning‑experience absences.
  • Parents, designated school attendance employees, and agencies that receive truancy reports (Kansas DCF, county/district attorneys) are affected procedurally.
  • The changes could modestly reduce truancy referrals for students participating in these activities, subject to local board limits.

Fiscal and procedural notes

  • Introduced: January 27, 2025 (requested by Rep. Moser).
  • Hearing: House Committee on Education — Monday, February 3, 2025, 1:30 PM, Room 218‑N.
  • Fiscal note (Kansas Division of the Budget, Jan. 31, 2025): no fiscal effect for the Department of Education; required administrative changes at the school district level would likely have negligible fiscal impact.
  • Legal effect: amends K.S.A. 72‑3121 and repeals the existing section as indicated in the bill text.

This bill provides local districts flexibility to support experiential learning (notably agricultural-related activities) while preserving existing attendance reporting and truancy procedures; local boards retain authority to limit approved absences.

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

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