How SB 1387 changes current law

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This bill amends existing laws regarding attendance policies and truancy procedures for charter schools in Pennsylvania.

• Section 1327.2(a.1)

  [during each synchronous instructional period for each course] → the following:

  Clarifies that being present for synchronous instruction requires a child to be visible on camera.

• Section 1327.2(a.1)(3)(i)

  [weekly]

  Removes the frequency requirement for benchmarks in asynchronous instruction.

• Section 1327.2(c)

  [(1) Charter, regional charter and cyber charter schools shall report all unexcused absences directly to the department annually through the Pennsylvania Information Management System (PIMS). (2) In addition to the reporting requirements under paragraph (1), cyber charter schools shall submit information related to the completion of the weekly benchmarks established under subsection (a.1)(3) annually through PIMS and the department shall post the information on the department's publicly accessible Internet website. (3) For students who have been found to be truant or habitually truant, cyber charter schools shall report the information required under paragraphs (1) and (2) directly to the department monthly through PIMS.]

  Simplifies reporting requirements for charter schools regarding unexcused absences.

• Section 1329(b.1)(1)

  rules governing pupil attendance, absences and excusals that:

  Prohibits districts from assigning unexcused absences due to lack of transportation.

• Section 1329(b.1)(4)

  unexcused absence to students if they are tardy for a class or are absent from a class.

  Prevents districts from giving unexcused absences for class tardiness.

• Section 1333(a)

  [The notice: (1) shall include a description of the consequences that will follow if the child becomes habitually truant; (2) shall be in the mode and language of communication preferred by the person in parental relation; (2.1) shall include notice to the person in parental relation that a child who is habitually truant may not transfer, during the school year, to a cyber charter school unless a judge determines that the transfer is in the best interest of the child; (2.2) shall include resources available to assist the child and the person in parental relation with returning the child to compliant compulsory school attendance and opportunities for further academic recovery in response to the truant behavior; (3) may include the offer of a school attendance improvement conference; or (4) when transmitted to a person who is not the biological or adoptive parent, shall also be provided to the child's biological or adoptive parent if the parent's mailing address is on file with the school and the parent is not precluded from receiving the information by court order.]

  Revises requirements for notifications sent to parents regarding a child's truancy.

• Section 1333(a.1)

  The notice under subsection (a):

  Introduces new specific requirements for truancy notices sent to parents.

• Section 1333.1(b)

  [either]

  Clarifies options available to schools when dealing with habitual truancy cases.

• Section 1333.1(b)(2)

  [either: (1) do either of the following: (1)]

  Revises the structure of the school obligations for notifying caretakers in truancy cases.