The bill amends Florida Statutes to enhance the enforcement of school attendance by requiring district school boards to implement a mandatory electronic alert system. This system will notify school administrators, the child study team, and parents when a student reaches the truancy threshold for absences. The bill emphasizes the importance of timely communication and intervention to address student absences and prevent patterns of nonattendance. Additionally, it mandates that public schools track both excused and unexcused absences and contact parents when a student is absent without a valid reason.

Furthermore, the bill updates cross-references in related statutes to align with the new provisions. It specifies that if a student has a certain number of unexcused absences, the school superintendent or designee may file a truancy petition for early intervention. The bill also clarifies the responsibilities of district school boards in enforcing attendance laws and allows for the recording of unexcused tardies and early departures as absences. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
H 1181 Filed: 984.151, 1003.02