Select Truancy/School Attendance and Parental Responsibility
Enactment Summaries
1994-2000
This compilation presents examples of recent state enactments with regard to parents held responsible for the truancy of their child(ren), and is not inclusive of all legislative actions, such as budget appropriations. For information on specific issues, contact NCSL's Denver office at 303/364-7700.
2000 Vol. 70 Del. Laws, HB 213, 72 Chap. 346 Establishes that any public school student who misses more than three days of school, without a valid excuse, is a truant. Requires notification to legal guardians and students about administrative procedures and penalties related to unexcused absences, including court adjudication and parental responsibility. Requires convictions against parents be reported to state human services agencies.
1994 Hawaii Sess. Laws, Act 22 Authorizes the family court to consider a child's school attendance records as evidence in cases where non-attendance or deprivation is due to the failure of the child's parent or guardian to care for the child.
1995 La. Acts, Act 702 Creates the offense of improper supervision of a minor by a parent or guardian. Includes acts such as associating with a gang, convicted felon, drug user or distributor, a person who possess or has access to an illegal weapon or entering inappropriate premises, violating curfew or habitual truancy. Establishes penalties.
1999 Me. Public Laws, Chap. 198 Permits superintendents to meet with parents of truants to explain benefits of attending alternative education programs. Allows superintendent, instead of school board, to notify local law enforcement agency that minor has been declared habitually truant.
1995 Minn. Laws, Chap. 226, Art. 3 (Sec. 8, 13, 31, 48) Increases the penalties for violating the compulsory school attendance law. Authorizes denial of driving privileges for habitual truancy. Allows the court to order a parent to deliver a truant child to school.
1995 Neb. Laws, L.B. 455, Sec. 10 and L.B. 1224(94) Requires parents to ensure school attendance for children, encourages minor parents to reside with parents, in demonstration counties.
1997 Nev. Stats., Chap. 522 Sec. 16 Requires school districts to inform parents that parents and students are required to comply with state statutes governing attendance and truancy.
2000 Ohio Laws, SB 181 Expands definitions of delinquent child and unruly child to include "habitual truants". Grants original juvenile court jurisdiction over all cases where parent is alleged to have contributed directly or negligently toward a child's habitual truancy and sets penalties for such offenses. Requires parents to attend all court proceedings related to child. Authorizes boards of education to require parents and guardians to attend an educational program encouraging parental involvement when parent has caused child's failure to attend school. Requires board of education to file a complaint jointly against child and parent for habitual truancy.
1995 Or. Laws, Chap. 116 Requires a superintendent to issue a school attendance citation to a parent or guardian of a pupil who fails to attend full-time.
1995 Pa. Laws, Act 29 Increases the penalty for a parent of a truant to $300 and court costs, or the completion of a parenting education class. Allows community service in lieu of or in addition to any other penalty. Provides that if a parent is not at fault, then the child will be fined $300 or must comply with an adjudication alternative program. Requires the suspension of the driver's license of truants.
1996 Tenn, Pub. Acts, Chap. 1079 Sec. 144 Authorizes a judge to fine parents up to $50 of five hours of community service if their child is absent more than five days per year.
1995 Tenn. Pub. Acts, Chap. 149 Extends penalties to parents of habitually truant children in grades K-6 to parents of grades K-12 children.
1994 Tenn. Pub. Acts, Chap. 756 Allows parents or guardians to be fined or ordered to perform community service if their elementary school child has more than five unexcused absences per year.
1995 Wash. Laws, Chap. 312 Sec. 66-75 Requires school district to file truancy petitions in juvenile court against students and parents if a student has five unexcused absences monthly or 10 per year. Permits courts to require parents to do community service in the student's school.
1998 Wis. Laws, Act 239 Strengthens compulsory school attendance laws regarding age restrictions and additional penalties. Defines habitual truancy. Permits municipalities to enact truancy ordinances. Requires county truancy plans and review. Clarifies court authority and parental notice and responsibility regarding truant child.
1995 Wis. Laws, Act 77 Sec. 118, 938, 103.72 Creates additional dispositions for juveniles found to be habitually truant including the revocation of a work permit and teen court. Allows the court to order parents to participate in counseling at their expense. Allows the court to suspend driving privileges for children in need of services or protection, or who are habitually truant, for failing to comply with a dispositional order.
For further information regarding juvenile justice, contact Mary Fairchild at 303/364-7700.
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