Absenteeism in public schools.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about how schools should handle absences due to other activities or disputes over reasons for absences, leaving these points open-ended.

Rules for School Attendance

This law sets rules about when a student's absence from school is considered unexcused and requires each school district to define 'habitual truancy' and 'unexcused absence'.

What This Bill Does

• Defines what an unexcused absence means for all students in public schools.
• Requires each school board to create rules about student attendance, including defining habitual truancy.
• Specifies that absences due to illness or family emergencies are not considered unexcused.
• States that participating in the Wyoming State Fair as an exhibitor is a valid reason for excused absence.

Who It Names or Affects

• All students attending public schools in Wyoming
• School districts and their boards of trustees

Terms To Know

habitual truancy

Repeatedly missing school without a good reason.

unexcused absence

Missing school for reasons that are not accepted by the school as valid.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law does not specify how schools should handle absences due to other activities.
• It is unclear what happens if a student's reason for missing school is disputed by the school district.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 21LSO-0292
Bill No.:

SF0068

Effective:

Multiple Dates

LSO No.:

21LSO-0292

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0066

Chapter No.:

163

Prime Sponsor:

Ellis

Catch Title:

Absenteeism in public schools.

Subject:

Amending provisions related to school attendance and unexcused absences.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act requires the board of trustees in each school district to define "habitual truancy" and "unexcused absence" for all students attending public schools and establish rules for student attendance.

As part of this requirement, preapproved
absences
or absences due to injury or illness are not to be considered an unexcused absence. Absences due to participating in the Wyoming State Fair are to be considered an excused absence for participating in a school-district cocurricular program.

This act repeals the power of each board of trustees to have the discretionary power to define "unexcused absence" and "habitual truancy" for school-attendance purposes.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

21LSO-0292

ORIGINAL Senate

ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0068

ENROLLED ACT NO. 66,

SENATE

SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2021 General Session

AN ACT relating to education; amending provisions related to school attendance and unexcused absences; clarifying what constitutes an unexcused absence for purposes of school attendance; amending and repealing duties and powers of the boards of trustees for Wyoming school districts; requiring rulemaking; and providing for effective dates.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 21
‑
3
‑
110(a) by creating a new paragraph (xxxix) is amended to read:

21
‑
3
‑
110.

Duties of boards of trustees.

(a)

The board of trustees in each school district shall:

(xxxix)

Define "habitual truancy" and "unexcused absence" for all students who are attending public schools and establish rules regarding student attendance. For purposes of this paragraph, an absence preapproved by the district or an absence due to an illness, injury or the health care needs of the student or a death or serious illness in the student's family shall not constitute an unexcused absence. Students participating in the annual state fair held under W.S. 11-10-101 as an exhibitor shall be considered as participating in a district cocurricular activity program and the student's absence shall be defined by the board as an excused absence. Nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit a school district from requesting verification of the reasons for an absence.

Section 2.

W.S. 21
‑
3
‑
111(a)(xvi) is repealed.

Section 3
.

Not later than August 1, 2021, the board of trustees in each school district in Wyoming shall adopt any rules necessary to implement the provisions of this act.

Section 4
.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, this act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(b) Sections 1 and 2 of this act are effective August 1, 2021.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1