The bill amends the Education Code to include chronically absent students as a category of students at risk of dropping out of school. Specifically, it adds a new definition for "chronically absent student," which refers to those who are absent for more than 10% of the school operation time allocated for instruction within a school year or a six-week reporting period. Additionally, the bill requires the collection and reporting of data regarding these students, including their demographics and status in relation to special education, dyslexia, and bilingual education.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Texas Education Agency aggregate and publicly share data on chronic absenteeism, ensuring that it is available at both campus and district levels. This data will include the percentage of chronically absent students across various demographic categories, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability in addressing student absenteeism. The provisions of this act are set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 29.081, Education Code 48.009 (Education Code 29, Education Code 48)
House Committee Report: Education Code 29.081, Education Code 48.009 (Education Code 29, Education Code 48)
Engrossed: Education Code 29.081, Education Code 48.009 (Education Code 29, Education Code 48)