97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2011 and 2012
HB3179

 

Introduced 2/24/2011, by Rep. John D. Cavaletto

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/26-2a  from Ch. 122, par. 26-2a

    Amends the School Code. Provides that a chronic or habitual truant shall be defined as a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for 5% (instead of 10%) or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB3179LRB097 07424 NHT 47533 b

1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by changing Section
526-2a as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/26-2a)  (from Ch. 122, par. 26-2a)
7    Sec. 26-2a. A "truant" is defined as a child subject to
8compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid
9cause from such attendance for a school day or portion thereof.
10    "Valid cause" for absence shall be illness, observance of a
11religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family
12emergency, and shall include such other situations beyond the
13control of the student as determined by the board of education
14in each district, or such other circumstances which cause
15reasonable concern to the parent for the safety or health of
16the student.
17    "Chronic or habitual truant" shall be defined as a child
18who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is
19absent without valid cause from such attendance for 5% 10% or
20more of the previous 180 regular attendance days.
21    "Truant minor" is defined as a chronic truant to whom
22supportive services, including prevention, diagnostic,
23intervention and remedial services, alternative programs and

 

 

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1other school and community resources have been provided and
2have failed to result in the cessation of chronic truancy, or
3have been offered and refused.
4    A "dropout" is defined as any child enrolled in grades 9
5through 12 whose name has been removed from the district
6enrollment roster for any reason other than the student's
7death, extended illness, removal for medical non-compliance,
8expulsion, aging out, graduation, or completion of a program of
9studies and who has not transferred to another public or
10private school and is not known to be home-schooled by his or
11her parents or guardians or continuing school in another
12country.
13    "Religion" for the purposes of this Article, includes all
14aspects of religious observance and practice, as well as
15belief.
16(Source: P.A. 96-1423, eff. 8-3-10.)
 
17    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
18becoming law.