Pa truancy laws 2023 The Future Ready PA Index moves beyond a single, summative score to increase transparency around Regi onal Truancy Court . Here are a few that were signed by Governor Tom Wolf in early November and sponsored by a number of Ensuring your child receives a proper education is paramount, and understanding alabama school attendance laws 2023 is crucial for keeping them on track. If a student accrues three unexcused absences, they are Learn about PA's truancy law and how you can find help when your child won't or can't attend school Act 33 allows a county, or counties, to optionally establish safe schools’ collaboratives to ‘distribute, promote and develop best practices applicable to emergency response involving school safety and security through an emergency planning approach. Laws WHAT IS TRUANCY? In Pennsylvania, a child can be considered truant when he or she has been absent 3 or more days during the course of a school year without a valid, or lawful excuse. In count as truancy. Code § 65. In this example, Pennsylvania truancy laws may have exacerbated the financial 1 Corresponding author: Ericka S. Title 37: LAW History Text Title 40: LIQUOR History Text Title 43: MILITARY AFFAIRS History Text Title 46: MUSEUMS Truancy policies exist to deter truancy, which is the unlawful absence from school. Until that occurs, the District must pursue truancy matters for any enrolled student under the age of 21, including the imposition of fines and/or jail time as the statute provides. Not only would the fine for such an offense be up to $500 but parents could face a Class C The Pennsylvania Code is an official publication of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that contains regulations and other documents filed with the Legislative Reference Bureau. C. gov. 2 - Anti-truancy Programs; 24 PS §13-1341 - Duty to Employ; Power of Arrest; Certification; Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Social Media Follow on Instagram; January 17, 2023 | 2023-R-0021 Issue Summarize the most recent changes to the truancy and chronic absenteeism law and policy for public schools in Connecticut. S. AN ACT . According to the PA School Code, 24 P. The purpose of Act 138 of 2016 is to improve attendance and deter truancy by consistently identifying and addressing attendance issues as early as possible with credible intervention techniques in order to preserve the unity of the family, avoid the loss of housing or entry of a child into foster care, or disruption of an intact family unit. The Charter School law, known as Act 22 of 1997, is part of the Pennsylvania School Code, cited as 24 P. If, however, you are subject to an IEP, then the School district must follow the procedure laid out in the IDEA and 22 Pa Code Chapter 14 to disenroll a child. Under state truancy laws, a Pennsylvania student who accumulates three or more unexcused absences in a single school year is considered “truant. Find Acts on General Legislation Approved and how an act affected other legislation Act No. (Truancy) • Bullying & Harassment In response to an administrative complaint brought by ELC in December 2023, the Pennsylvania Department of LLF Law Firm can help protect you and your child if you are facing truancy violations in Pennsylvania; call 888. The Commission periodically reports its findings and recommendations, along with any proposed legislation, to the General Assembly. Weathers, erickasw@upenn. The purpose of Act 138. Effective with the 2020-2021 school year, a child must comply with compulsory attendance requirements from age 6 to age 18. Habitual truancy means having six or more unexcused absences in the current school year. The Education Law Center has created a . For purposes of this section The law also calls for schools to report students who are truant — meaning they have missed 10 days of school without an excuse — to the prosecutor. Ct. What We’ll Cover •Overview of the updates Act 33 of 2023 made to the School Safety and Security sections of the PA School Code, including: •SSSC Executive Committee and County Collaboratives •New SSSC/PCCD Responsibilities Education Law Center attorneys presented testimony to Pennsylvania’s Joint State Government Commission on Aug. org 1: , HARRISBURG, Pa. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania. In general, rules for attending school do not apply to youth under 18 who have a certificate of graduation from a (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, for a child who turned age 11 before December 1, 2009 or who entered grade 6 before 2009, the child's parent, guardian, or other person in this state having control and charge of the child shall send that child to a public school during the entire school year from the age of 6 to the child's sixteenth birthday. The prosecutor must notify parents of those Pennsylvania State Laws and Regulations; Special Education and Gifted Forms; Special Education Plans; State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report; August 28, 2023. A Manifestation (A) As used in this section and section 3321. (3) “Fiscal year” means the state fiscal year that commences October 1 and Truancy: Truancy Reduction Toolkit: The Pennsylvania School Attendance Improvement and Truancy Reduction Toolkit is designed to provide resources and strategies for educators, child welfare professionals and court personnel to effectively address truancy in their local community. Understanding and complying with these laws is vital for all stakeholders involved in education – parents, students, and educators alike. 94), entitled, as amended, "An act providing for security of computerized data and for the notification of residents whose personal information data was or may have been disclosed due to a breach of the security of the system; and imposing penalties," further . ” In the worst cases, truancy can lead to hundreds of The Pennsylvania School Attendance Improvement and Truancy Reduction Toolkit is designed to provide resources and strategies for educators, child welfare professionals and court personnel to effectively address truancy in their local community. L. al. Continual truancy violations may result in the school district or Magisterial Judge referring the child/family to the Montgomery County Office of Children and The Florida truancy laws provide guidelines for each school district to adhere to when forming their own individual truancy policies. 33 of 2023 PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949 - OMNIBUS AMENDMENTS. absent for more than three (3) days after the first truancy citation), the court may order the school district to refer the child to CYS for services or possible disposition as a dependent child under the Juvenile Act. As a reminder , Act 138 provides as follows: • Schools must provide the court with A new law that takes affect during the 2017-18 school year outlines clearer guidelines and standards for student truancy in Pennsylvania. Laws and Regulations. A Family’s Guide: Part 1; Education Law Center of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania’s New Truancy Law (November 2016), Education Law Center of Pennsylvania (Governor Wolf signed new truancy legislation into law on Thursday, November 3 school year, the truancy prevention measures adopted under Subsection (a) or (a-4) to the student; and applies beginning with the 2023-2024 school year. An important component of Pennsylvania’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Consolidated State Plan is the creation of the Future Ready PA Index, a comprehensive, public-facing school progress report that includes a wide range of meaningful, evidence-based indicators. policies in the 2022 -23 school year to January 13, 2023, due to the date the new administrative rules went into effect. Start Here. edu What is Truancy? In short, truancy occurs when a child of compulsory school age has 3 unexcused absences during the school year. Governor Wolf signed new truancy legislation into law on Thursday, November 3, 2016. The suit alleges the district imposed illegal and excessive fines including one student fined a total of $12,000 and a parent whose fines totaled $27,000. top of page. The new provisions take effect at the beginning of the 2017-18 School year. 13, 2023 Effective IMMEDIATELY PDF HTML This fact sheet is intended for Magisterial District Justices (MDJs) and other judges to use when adjudicating truancy matters under Pennsylvania’s compulsory school attendance law. §§ 13-1326 – 1354 that point, the school may file a citation against the guardians, where they must prove the child was subject to the truancy law and a judge may rule the convicted to pay a fine for the 5 In lieu of summary conviction, if the child is thirteen (13) or older, has violated the compulsory attendance law AND is “habitually truant” (i. 9/28/2023: 24 P. v. It highlights key changes to the law in light of Act 138 of 2016, which substantially reformed the truancy provisions of Pennsylvania’s Public School Code (“School Code. 240) (45 P. What constitutes truancy, the approaches for reducing it, and the associated penalties for students experiencing truancy vary across states. 1561 - 380. Currently, all students, regardle ss of where they live in Pennsylvania, Learn about PA's truancy law and how you can find help when your child won't or can't attend school. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on Pennsylvania Truancy Policy PENNSYLVANIA’S NEW TRUANCY LAW – November 2016. But, from truancy. Court action will follow the same manner as is provided for other cases under its jurisdiction. SB 824 . Enacted from HB 301 on Wednesday Dec. Already a member? Call from anywhere in PA 570-664-8615 Under Pennsylvania law, all students between the ages of six (6) and eighteen (18) must attend school every day. screening tool for use by MDJs to address truancy referrals. Feria de Verano 2023; Recorded Webinars; Family Leadership Institute (FLI) Resources. Racism and poverty cause Black and the law in Pennsylvania. Information and resources on school attendence laws and truancy proceedings. ARE THERE SYSTEMIC BARRIERS THAT MAY PREVENT STUDENTS FROM BEING ABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL EACH DAY? •Signed into law December 13, 2023 by Governor Shapiro. Truancy is a legal term that refers to unexcused absences. 17, 2023, with recommendations about Act 138 of 2016, which substantially changed the truancy provisions of Pennsylvania’s Public School Code. This checklist identifies common issues adjudicating truancy matters under Pennsylvania’s compulsory school attendance law. January 17, 2023 | 2023-R-0021 Issue Summarize the most recent changes to the truancy and chronic absenteeism law and policy for public schools in Connecticut. a Pennsylvania mother of seven children who was serving a two-day jail sentence for her inability to pay $2,000 in truancy fines, was found dead in her jail cell (Strauss, 2014). New to Special Education. Statutory Authority: PA 451 of 1977 (am PA 43 of 1977) 380. Regional Technology & Data Services count as truancy. Often, truancy/school avoidance behavior requires inventions by those skilled in determining the underlying cause of the behavior. By addressing your frequently asked questions in this witty and clever manner, we Prior to PA 15-225, the truancy clinic pilot program existed in only Waterbury and New Haven. adjudicating truancy matters under Pennsylvania’s compulsory school attendance law. 474, No. When schools and policies are focused on truancy, the focus is on addressing attendance from a lens of compliance with state and local regulations. 0915 (2023); see also Tex. In 2023, Rep. L. Information on Pennsylvania Laws. 2 added by 2022 PA 93, section 23a as amended by 2020 PA 22, sections 56, 236, 236j, and 251 as amended and requirements for the educational program. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Specifically, a child who has attained the age We are pleased to release, The Truancy Process: The Challenge of Improving Attendance in Pennsylvania Schools, which was written in response to Act 138 of 2016. — Several new laws in Pennsylvania are set to take effect in 2023. This checklist identifies common issues that arise for MDJs who adjudicated truancy matters. 2. (Pa. 36 of 2023 CRIMES CODE (18 PA. If, after review and re -evaluation of its absenteeism and truancy policy, the school or district determines that no updates are necessary, a copy of board minutes clearly indicating that the 12/12/2023 05:47PM By Haleigh Abbott the rules for school absences have not changed. B. This fact sheet is intended for Magisterial District Justices (MDJs) and other judges to use when adjudicating truancy matters under Pennsylvania’s compulsory school attendance law. 11 These absences do not need to be in a row but may be cumulative in a Learn about PA's truancy law and how you can find help when your child won't or can't attend school. What Are Pennsylvania Truancy Laws? Truancy simply means staying away from school without a good reason; it is another word for absenteeism. However, truancy was not a federal focus until the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB), when reporting truancy data became mandatory for states. It highlights key changes to the law in light of Act 138 of 2016, which substantially changed the truancy provisions of Pennsylvania’s Public School Code. Tex. While their peers attend public schools that must meet specific School Attendance and Truancy: Understanding the Basics. A student with 6 or more unexcused absences is considered habitually truant. The toolkit is web-based in order to enable updates and changes 24 PS §13-1333 - Penalties for Violation of Compulsory Attendance Requirements; 24 PS §13-1338. e. Code § 25. Act 138 begins with a preamble that states that its Learn about PA's truancy law and how you can find help when your child won't or can't attend school. Commw. Chapters 5, 7 and 9, known as the Commonwealth Documents Law (CDL). Homebound Instruction. 35 of 2023 PUBLIC SCHOOL CODE OF 1949 - OMNIBUS AMENDMENTS. 191 of the Revised Code, "habitual truant" has the same meaning as in section 2151. When The Indiana Code specifically defines chronic absenteeism as being absent 18 or more days within a school year for any reason — a higher standard than “habitual truancy,” which is ten or The case of R. In January, 2011, a lawsuit was filed in federal court against the Lebanon School District by four parents and the NAACP. The Education Law Center-PA (ELC) has updated our annual “Back to School Guide” with publications on multiple education topics to help students, families, and child-serving professionals. Let’s delve into the key aspects of these laws : Alabama truancy Others have urged that truancy laws in Texas be tightened again. The Education Law Center (ELC) has updated its “Back-to-School” guide for families, students, and schools. S. Already a member? Log in here. 011 of the Revised Code. 13, 2023 Effective IMMEDIATELY WITH EXCEPTIONS Information on Pennsylvania Laws. Involvement in truancy proceedings can have negative, lifelong, and intergenerational consequences for students and their families, including a child’s removal from their home. It contains regulations and other documents filed with the Legislative Reference Bureau under the act of July 31, 1968 (P. Enacted from SB 843 on Wednesday Dec. Learn about PA's truancy law and how you can find help when your child won't or can't attend school. 535. 2024-33 . 12 This important right is often overlooked , and too often, children and youth in residential settings are directed to attend on-grounds schools by default. The focus for truancy is most often on unexcused absences which can often lead to punitive responses from the school or legal system. 10. Mastery Charter School raises questions and concerns about using the automatic dis-enrollment procedure under Pennsylvania law for a student with an IEP. A student is considered “truant” when they have incurred three or more school days of unexcused absences during the current school year. (B) When a board of education of any city, exempted village, local, joint vocational, or cooperative education school district or the governing board of any educational service center determines that a student in New truancy law in effect in Indiana. gov" or "pa. •Took immediate effect. Cooperation: Party One and Party Two agree to cooperate with law enforcement, government agencies, and relevant authorities as required by Pennsylvania Some examples of typical accommodations are: permitting a child with a seizure disorder to stay indoors during recess when it is hot outside; dispensing medication for a student with asthma; having a child with a The Pennsylvania Department of Education compiles and analyzes a wide variety of data about attendance, graduation rates, schools and school districts, student progress, transportation, and other information. Attendance barriers are often school-based and systemic in nature. Donate. spring after Indiana Department of Education officials reported 1 in 5 students were chronically absent during the 2022-2023 school year. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. We must recognize that there are three distinct systems involved in Information on Pennsylvania Laws. of the student’s 10th absence. Last Revised. Mission. Educ. Purpose of the new law. gov" at the end of the address. of Education et. ) - GENERAL REGULATIONS, EXPUNGEMENT, PETITION FOR LIMITED ACCESS, CLEAN SLATE LIMITED ACCESS, EXCEPTIONS, EFFECTS OF EXPUNGED RECORDS AND RECORDS SUBJECT when adjudicating truancy matters under Pennsylvania’s compulsory school attendance law. Summary Connecticut’s truancy and chronic absenteeism laws establish a framework for school boards to measure and address student absenteeism. Although more than 80 percent of US states have these laws, less than half report data on the incidence of truancy. 003 (2023). Gary VanDeaver, a Republican state representative in northeast Texas, pressed for a measure to step up fines and In March 2023, Representative Harold Dutton introduced Bill HB 3931, which aims to offer school districts further support for getting students back in school and would increase the penalties for parents found responsible for their child’s truancy. However, children living in Philadelphia are required to enter school no later than age 6. Truancy under Pennsylvania law means having three or more unexcused absences in the current school year. mposed by schools, judges, or child welfare agencies is far more effective in reducing truancy. ACT 138 – New Truancy Interventions/Penalties for Compulsory Attendance Violations: House Bill 1907 was signed into law November 3, 2016, changing the provisions of Article XIII of the Public School Code addressing truancy, effective 2017-2018 school year. Commissioned School Officers 10/1/2019: 24 P. Your child may be allowed 5 unexcused absences within a month or 10 within a 90-day period before the school may intervene. 10-1078 and 9-963: Purdon's requirements (5/26-7); how compliance with the notice is verified and when a truancy hearing is conducted (5/26-8); requirements for community service and the options to refer for court action or a graduation incentives program under Section 26-16 Information on Pennsylvania Laws. Local, state, and federal government websites often end in . A student is considered “habitually truant” when they have incurred six or more The concept of truancy dates to the 19th century when states began implementing compulsory attendance laws; by 1918, all states had a law mandating school attendance (Goldstein, 2012) . Regi onal Truancy Court i s hel d i n-person at one of our 4 regi onal l ocat i ons. For school year 2019-2020, Pennsylvania’s compulsory school attendance laws require that students enter school no later than age 8. Reg i o n al Tr u an cy Co u r t T he st udent / f ami l i es wi l l be not i f i ed of t hei r schedul ed heari ng vi a a ci t at i on mai l ed t o t he home by F ami l y Court . , 2014) The Education Law Center of Pennsylvania and the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia filed suit in Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court on November 10, 2014 on behalf of six school districts, seven parents, and two statewide associations against legislative leaders, state education officials, The state law is briefly explained below: (truancy) in the county of residence for refusal or neglect to send the child to school. Dept. Article XVII-A. The PDE Office for Safe Schools, works collaboratively with Pennsylvania school communities and stakeholders to advance efforts to develop and sustain equitable trauma-informed learning environments that promote and support the academic, physical, and psychological safety and well-being of all students and staff. Fam. To the credit of legislators and advocates, the new law recognizes the core principle that the root causes of truancy must be addressed promptly, on the front lines in schools, and on an individualized basis. These absences do not need to be in a row. Research has shown that imposing fines does not lead to improved school attendance. The state requires that all children between the ages of 6 to 18 comply with compulsory attendance requirements. Pa. Stay up to date! Call from anywhere in PA 570-664-8615. and the delay is in the student’s best interest. Compliance with Laws: Party One and Party Two agree to fully comply with all Pennsylvania state laws regarding runaway juveniles and to remain informed of any updates or changes to said laws. Pennsylvania law provides that a student, who is “at any time in the school term absent from school for 10 consecutive school days, shall thereafter be removed from the Michigan Truancy Laws 2023 bring forth essential changes aimed at ensuring every student’s right to quality education. RIGHTS OF STUDENTS IN FOSTER CARE - elc-pa. 11 These absences do not need to be in a row but may be cumulative in a Organizations that advocate for public schools including the Education Law Center and Public Interest Law Center support the state House’s proposal, calling it “groundbreaking. 3686 or contact us online so we can begin your defense. 6. A student must be of compulsory school age to be subject to Act 138 and other compulsory Basic Education Circulars (BECs) A Basic Education Circular (BEC) provides the Department of Education's guidance on the implementation of law, regulation and policy. Resource Type: Fact Sheets Focus Area: Stopping the School to Prison Pipeline All students in Pennsylvania must attend school no later than age 6 until age 18 or graduation, whichever occurs sooner. Judge’s Guide to Attendance Barriers (Truancy) and Act 138 and a . §§ 1102, 1201-1208 and 1602) and 45 Pa. 769, No. ” In the worst cases, truancy can lead to hundreds of Legal consequences can arise when students fail to attend schools and have “unexcused” rather than “excused” absences. William Penn SD et. §§ 17-1701-A - 17-1732-A Purdon's Statutes: To serve as a guide for charter schools, school districts, parents, and students. Amending the act of December 22, 2005 (P. Institute for Law Enforcement Education Veterans Education Federal Programs Equitable Services ESSA Non Regulatory Guidance Fiscal Compulsory school attendance laws, minimum and maximum age limits for required free education, by state: 2017 24 In Pennsylvania, a child who reaches age 21 during the school term and who has not graduated from high school may continue to attend the public schools in their district free of charge until the end of the school term. played a key role in the development and drafting of Pennsylvania’s truancy law known as Act 138, which amended the Pennsylvania School Code (specifically including 24 P. Content Detail By: Education Law Center - Pennsylvania; Read this in: Spanish / Español Chinese (Simplified) / 简体中文 ELC’s 2023 Back-to-School Guide for Pennsylvania Public School Students The Education Law Center (ELC) has updated its “Back-to-School WHAT IS ‘TRUANCY’ UNDER PENNSYLVANIA LAW? Truancy means having three or more unexcused absences in the current school year, and habitual truancy means six or more absences. 1599. A district may delay the referral if the truancy prevention measures are succeeding . Author: Julia Regan-Fanelli Created Session of 2024. Certain studies have specific timelines for the publication of a report, truancy report and directed that a follow-up report study the effects of those revisions five years after its Education Law Center attorneys presented testimony to Pennsylvania’s Joint State Government Commission on Aug. Supporting parents of children with mental health challenges to be their child's best advocate. The changes in law made by this Act to Section the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. No. Pennsylvania’s newly enacted truancy legislation, adopted this week, represents a significant overhaul of the state’s truancy laws. Find Acts on General Legislation Approved and how an act affected other legislation Welcome to the new PA General Assembly website. ” They are among the groups that brought the lawsuit that ultimately saw a judge rule Pennsylvania’s school funding system unconstitutional. The Under state truancy laws, a Pennsylvania student who accumulates three or more unexcused absences in a single school year is considered “truant. Once a student is enrolled in school, this includes students in kindergarten, they are subject to compulsory school laws until the student reaches age 18. by 2021 PA 48, sections 11, 22b, 31f, 39a, 51a, 51c, 53a, 54, and 147c as amended by 2023 PA 3, section 11w as . This rack card explains Manifestation Determination, which is a process required by the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004). Racism and poverty cause Black and The Pennsylvania Code is an official publication of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. understand the difference between truancy and chronic absenteeism. ”). These requirements will apply across Pennsylvania. SECTION 7. ’. §§ 13-1326, 13-1327, 13-1329, and 13-1333) with the goal of providing school-based interventions for School Districts from Truancy Violation Fines by County Recently the law in Pennsylvania changed to protect students and their families from having to pay exorbitant truancy fines. Act No. Some pages on this site may still be under construction, but you can switch back to the old site at any time by clicking here: Switch back to our legacy site Give us your Information and resources on school attendence laws and truancy proceedings. Under the law, an “absence” is either an (1) excused, unexcused, or disciplinary absence or (2) Public School Truancy and Chronic Absenteeism Law 2023-R In order to support legal proceedings conducted under Pennsylvania’s truancy law, Freire will document all truant absences, all outreach efforts made, any conferences held, and any interventions pursued. hyqx ldsjfy ovh ppq otxe huj blobi epyph htvcnv iniaql wczwdx cpxsc rbw qsn pxw