The bill, S.B. No. 570, mandates that public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools in Texas adopt and implement a comprehensive attendance policy aimed at preventing truancy. This new policy must inform students and parents about the significance of regular attendance and provide necessary support for students who struggle with attendance. Key components of the policy include outlining the benefits of regular attendance, detailing the consequences of truancy on academic progress and family life, and establishing a system for notifying parents about their child's absences, regardless of whether they are excused or unexcused.

Additionally, the bill requires schools to facilitate meetings between parents and school officials when a student is at risk of truancy, and it allows for home visits by attendance officers if parents do not attend these meetings. Schools must also identify students needing extra support and refer them to appropriate services. The attendance policy must be distributed to parents at the start of each school year, and the provisions of this act will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year.

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