2023 23LSO-0375
STATE OF WYOMING
SENATE FILE NO. SF0084
Education-model student attendance policies.
Sponsored by: Senator(s) Ellis, Biteman, Brennan and Landen and Representative(s) Andrew, Brown and Haroldson
A BILL
for
1 AN ACT relating to education; requiring the state
2 superintendent of public instruction to develop model rules
3 and policies for student attendance; requiring rulemaking;
4 requiring reporting; and providing for an effective date.
5
6 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:
7
8 Section 1. W.S. 21-2-202(a) by creating a new
9 paragraph (xli) and 21-3-110(a)(xxxix) are amended to read:
10
11 21-2-202. Duties of the state superintendent.
12
13 (a) In addition to any other duties assigned by law,
14 the state superintendent shall:
15
1 SF0084
 2023 STATE OF WYOMING 23LSO-0375
1 (xli) Develop model rules and policies for
2 student attendance to include definitions of "unexcused
3 absence", "habitual truant" and "willful absenteeism" for
4 all students who are attending public schools as required
5 by W.S. 21-3-110(a)(xxxix). No school district shall be
6 required to adopt any part of the model rules or policies
7 developed by the state superintendent under this paragraph.
8
9 21-3-110. Duties of boards of trustees.
10
11 (a) The board of trustees in each school district
12 shall:
13
14 (xxxix) Define "unexcused absence", "habitual
15 truant" and "willful absenteeism" for all students who are
16 attending public schools and establish rules regarding
17 student attendance. For purposes of this paragraph, an
18 absence preapproved by the district, or an absence due to
19 an illness, injury or the health care needs of the student
20 or a death or serious illness in the student's family,
21 absences requested by the student's parent, guardian, or
22 custodian in writing that do not significantly affect the
23 student's academic performance or an absence for a
2 SF0084
 2023 STATE OF WYOMING 23LSO-0375
1 student's mental health shall not constitute an unexcused
2 absence. Students participating in the annual state fair
3 held under W.S. 11-10-101 as an exhibitor shall be
4 considered as participating in a district cocurricular
5 activity program and the student's absence shall be defined
6 by the board as an excused absence. Nothing in this
7 paragraph shall prohibit a school district from requesting
8 verification of the reasons for an absence.
9
10 Section 2.
11
12 (a) Not later than July 1, 2023, the state
13 superintendent of public instruction shall develop the
14 model rules and policies required under W.S.
15 21-2-202(a)(xli) as created by Section 1 this act.
16
17 (b) Not later than July 1, 2023, the state
18 superintendent of public instruction shall report to the
19 joint education interim committee on the model rules and
20 policies required under W.S. 21-2-202(a)(xli) as created by
21 section 1 this act.
22
3 SF0084
 2023 STATE OF WYOMING 23LSO-0375
1 Section 3. This act is effective immediately upon
2 completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law
3 as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming
4 Constitution.
5
6 (END)
4 SF0084


Statutes affected:
Introduced: 21-2-202, 21-3-110