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 students 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 programs.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that the Texas Education Agency annually aggregate and publicly release data on chronic absenteeism, ensuring that this information is available at both the campus and district levels. The data must include the percentage of chronically absent students disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and various educational statuses. The changes aim to enhance awareness and intervention strategies for students at risk of dropping out due to chronic absenteeism, with the law 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)