SB3537 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

LRB100 19133 AXK 34398 b

100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2017 and 2018
SB3537

Introduced 2/16/2018, by Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:

105 ILCS 5/26-2a

from Ch. 122, par. 26-2a

Amends the School Code. Provides that, in the Article governing compulsory attendance of pupils, the term "truant" means a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause, as defined in the Article, from such attendance for more than 1%, but less than 5%, of the past 180 days (rather than absent without valid cause from such attendance for a school day or portion thereof). Effective July 1, 2018.

A BILL FOR

AN ACT concerning education.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section 26-2a as follows:

(105 ILCS 5/26-2a) (from Ch. 122, par. 26-2a)

Sec. 26-2a. A "truant" is defined as a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause, as defined under this Section, from such attendance for more than 1%, but less than 5%, of the past 180 school days a school day or portion thereof.

"Valid cause" for absence shall be illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, and shall include such other situations beyond the control of the student as determined by the board of education in each district, or such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent for the safety or health of the student.

"Chronic or habitual truant" shall be defined as a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days.

"Truant minor" is defined as a chronic truant to whom supportive services, including prevention, diagnostic, intervention and remedial services, alternative programs and other school and community resources have been provided and have failed to result in the cessation of chronic truancy, or have been offered and refused.

A "dropout" is defined as any child enrolled in grades 9 through 12 whose name has been removed from the district enrollment roster for any reason other than the student's death, extended illness, removal for medical non-compliance, expulsion, aging out, graduation, or completion of a program of studies and who has not transferred to another public or private school and is not known to be home-schooled by his or her parents or guardians or continuing school in another country.

"Religion" for the purposes of this Article, includes all aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as belief.

(Source: P.A. 96-1423, eff. 8-3-10; 97-218, eff. 7-28-11.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect July 1, 2018.