This bill amends the Public School Code of 1949 to enhance attendance policies specifically for charter, regional charter, and cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania. It requires these schools to establish attendance policies that accurately track unexcused and excused absences, as well as attendance during synchronous and asynchronous instruction. Notably, cyber charter schools must ensure that students are visible on camera during synchronous instruction and must set benchmarks for asynchronous coursework, with specific reporting requirements to the Department of Education. The bill also introduces new provisions regarding truancy, including the stipulation that a child who is habitually truant cannot transfer to virtual instruction or a cyber charter school without a judge's approval.

Additionally, the bill repeals previous provisions related to the study of truancy procedures and introduces new support measures from the Department of Education to prevent truancy. It mandates that educational entities report attendance data to the Secretary of Education and outlines penalties for falsifying attendance records. The bill emphasizes the importance of parental notification regarding truancy and provides resources to assist families in addressing attendance issues. Overall, the legislation aims to strengthen accountability and support for students' attendance in Pennsylvania's educational system.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1126 (Aug 27, 2025): P.L.30, No.14