ARTICLE
October 31, 2024 – The Interim Study Committee on Education approved a final report with five "findings and recommendations" on student attendance, suspension, and expulsion. The first two items identify topics in need of additional study. Items three and four identify specific changes to be considered during the 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly, and the final item calls on schools to take advantage of an early warning dashboard that is still under development. Committee Findings and Recommendations: 1) The Department of Education should study the categorization rationale used by schools to differentiate between excused and unexcused absences, make recommendations regarding what should qualify as an excused or unexcused absence, and create a list of best practices to reduce student discipline and chronic absenteeism. 2) The Department of Education should study the basis for student suspensions or expulsions categorized as “other” by school districts and should consider expanding the available suspension or expulsion categorization options. 3) The General Assembly, State Board of Education, and Department of Education should consider prohibiting the use of suspensions and expulsions for chronically absent students and habitual truants. 4) The General Assembly, State Board of Education, and Department of Education should consider increasing the timeline for an attendance conference under IC 20-33-2.5-4 from five days to ten days. 5) Schools should increase the use of the Department of Education’s early warning dashboard, when available, to ensure appropriate intervention measures are taken for students with attendance issues. The Indiana School Boards Association recently published an FAQ for school corporations on absenteeism and truancy. ### Adam VanOsdol ISBA Communications Specialist/Content Strategist avanosdol@isba-ind.org
October 31, 2024 – The Interim Study Committee on Education approved a final report with five "findings and recommendations" on student attendance, suspension, and expulsion. The first two items identify topics in need of additional study. Items three and four identify specific changes to be considered during the 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly, and the final item calls on schools to take advantage of an early warning dashboard that is still under development.
Committee Findings and Recommendations:
1) The Department of Education should study the categorization rationale used by schools to differentiate between excused and unexcused absences, make recommendations regarding what should qualify as an excused or unexcused absence, and create a list of best practices to reduce student discipline and chronic absenteeism.
2) The Department of Education should study the basis for student suspensions or expulsions categorized as “other” by school districts and should consider expanding the available suspension or expulsion categorization options.
3) The General Assembly, State Board of Education, and Department of Education should consider prohibiting the use of suspensions and expulsions for chronically absent students and habitual truants.
4) The General Assembly, State Board of Education, and Department of Education should consider increasing the timeline for an attendance conference under IC 20-33-2.5-4 from five days to ten days.
5) Schools should increase the use of the Department of Education’s early warning dashboard, when available, to ensure appropriate intervention measures are taken for students with attendance issues.
The Indiana School Boards Association recently published an FAQ for school corporations on absenteeism and truancy.
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Adam VanOsdol
ISBA Communications Specialist/Content Strategist
avanosdol@isba-ind.org