Report Title:

Truancy; BOE Attendance Study; System of Rewards and Sanctions

Description:

Requests the board of education to study and report on the rate of truancy within the public school system, by district; requests the board of education to adopt a statewide policy on attendance rewards and sanctions, including use of alternative learning centers. (SD1)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

277

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

S.D. 1


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to education.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The board of education shall conduct a study to determine the rate of truancy in the public schools, including collection of data indicating the gender, age, and grade level of truants, trends as reflected in absentee reports from specific schools, school complexes, or school districts, causal factors as identified by parents and students that contribute to truancy, existing Hawaii laws or administrative rules that preclude schools from addressing truancy within the public school system, and truancy policies implemented in comparable public school systems. The board shall, upon completion of the study, consider and adopt a statewide policy regarding attendance and truancy to provide for a system of rewards for exemplary attendance and sanctions for truancy that can be provided and imposed within the public school system. The board shall further consider the use of alternative learning centers for chronically absent students as an alternative to dismissal from or voluntary non-completion of the regular school program.

The board of education shall submit a report to the legislature, not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the 2004 regular session, including the findings and recommendations of the study and a status report on the adoption of a statewide policy on attendance and truancy.

SECTION 2. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.