Pennsylvania HB 1883: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in pupils and attendance, providing for chronic absence prevention and support.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 2344
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1883
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY GUZMAN, HILL-EVANS, GIRAL AND SANCHEZ,
SEPTEMBER 26, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 29, 2025
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," in pupils and attendance, providing
for chronic absence prevention and support.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
section to read:
Section 1333.5. Chronic Absence Prevention and Support.--(a)
Each school shall collect daily attendance data for each student
enrolled and report attendance using a standardized system to
the department in accordance with the following:
(1) Attendance data shall include all absences,
disaggregated by grade, student group and reason for absence,
categorized by the following:
(i) Satisfactory, meaning less than five percent (5%)
absent.
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(ii) At-risk, meaning five percent (5%) to nine percent (9%)
absent.
(iii) Moderate, meaning ten percent (10%) to nineteen
percent (19%) absent.
(iv) Severe, meaning twenty percent (20%) or more absent.
(2) The department shall maintain a publicly accessible,
real-time attendance dashboard for educators, policymakers,
families and the public to ensure transparency and actionable
insights.
(3) The department shall produce an annual report
summarizing chronic absence trends, interventions implemented
and outcomes achieved across districts and schools.
(b) Each school shall establish an SAIP aligned with an MTSS
to address chronic absence through prevention, early
intervention and targeted support. Each SAIP shall include:
(1) Identification of students at risk of chronic absence.
(2) Tiered interventions, increasing in intensity based on
student needs.
(3) Coordination with counselors, social workers, teachers
and community partners.
(4) Monitoring of progress, outcomes and equity measures.
(c) An SAIP shall be developed collaboratively with
students, families of students and community stakeholders and
shall be reviewed at least twice per year.
(d) A school shall:
(1) Ensure that attendance interventions are culturally and
linguistically responsive, recognizing the diverse backgrounds
of students and families.
(2) Actively engage families in the development and
implementation of an SAIP, providing guidance and resources to
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address barriers to attendance.
(e) Additional support shall be provided to students from
historically marginalized or vulnerable populations, including
students of color, students with disabilities and students from
low-income backgrounds, to address disparities in chronic
absence.
(f) A school shall provide intervention and support
strategies in accordance with the following:
(1) Schools shall prioritize supportive, restorative and
preventive measures over punitive actions to improve attendance,
including mentoring, counseling, academic supports,
transportation assistance and connection to community services.
(2) Legal action or court involvement shall be used only as
a last resort, after all supportive interventions have been
exhausted and documented.
(g) A school shall provide recognition and resource
allocation in accordance with the following:
(1) Schools achieving meaningful reductions in chronic
absence shall be publicly recognized.
(2) The department shall use attendance data to target
resources and technical assistance to schools most in need of
support.
(h) The department shall provide implementation and
oversight in accordance with the following:
(1) The department shall provide guidance, training and
technical assistance to support districts and schools in
adopting best practices and implementing an SAIP aligned with
MTSS.
(2) The department shall monitor implementation, evaluate
effectiveness and recommend continuous improvements to the
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framework.
(i) As used in this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless
the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Chronic absence." A student missing ten percent (10%) or
more of enrolled school days in a school year for any reason,
including excused and unexcused absences.
"MTSS." A multitiered system of supports which is a
framework of evidence-based academic, behavioral and social-
emotional supports provided at increasing levels of intensity
based on student needs.
"SAIP." A school attendance improvement plan that a