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Bill

HR 180

STUDENT/SCH ATTENDANCE: Creates a study group to study truancy, including potentially adjusting the student count methodology used in the public school funding formula in the effort to address truancy

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Tehmi Chassion and 1 co-sponsor

Louisiana creates a study group to evaluate adjusting school funding based on student attendance to address truancy problems.

Taken by the Clerk of the House and presented to the Secretary of State in accordance with the Rules of the House.
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Bill Summary · HR 180

Legislative bill overview

HR 180 establishes a study group in Louisiana to examine truancy issues and evaluate whether the state's student count methodology for school funding formulas should be adjusted to address attendance problems. The bill passed unanimously through the House and has been signed into law, creating a formal mechanism to explore how funding mechanisms might incentivize or reward school attendance improvements.

Why is this important

Truancy directly impacts student outcomes and school operations—chronic absenteeism correlates with lower graduation rates and academic achievement. By linking funding formulas to attendance metrics, Louisiana could create financial incentives for districts to improve attendance, though this also raises questions about how schools serving disadvantaged populations (where absenteeism is often highest) would be affected by funding changes.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding mechanism risks: Adjusting student count methodology could penalize schools in high-poverty areas with legitimate barriers to attendance (transportation, food insecurity, health issues), potentially creating a vicious cycle of reduced funding for struggling schools.
  • Root cause vs. symptom: The bill addresses truancy through funding incentives rather than addressing underlying causes (poverty, mental health, family circumstances), which critics argue treats a symptom rather than the disease.
  • Study group composition and timeline: The bill doesn't specify who serves on the study group, what timeline they work on, or whether recommendations will be binding, potentially limiting its practical impact.

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

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