SF942

Senate File No. 942 is a proposed legislative bill in Minnesota that aims to address issues related to school attendance and child welfare. Here are the key points of the bill:

1. Definition of Habitual Truant: The bill revises the definition of "habitual truant" to include children aged 12 to 17 who are absent from school without a valid excuse for seven full school days if they are in elementary school, or for one or more class periods on seven school days if they are in middle or high school. It also specifies that a 17-year-old who misses school similarly and has not legally left school falls under this definition.

2. Reporting School Attendance Concerns: The bill mandates certain individuals who are required to report under the chapter, to immediately alert the local welfare agency if a child has seven unexcused absences in a school year, indicating potential educational neglect or truancy.

3. Voluntary Reports: It allows for voluntary reports from individuals who notice a child with seven unexcused absences, fostering community responsibility towards preventing educational neglect.

4. Local Welfare Agency Responsibilities: Upon receiving a report, the local welfare agency must provide appropriate child welfare responses. This includes offering services tailored to the child’s and family’s cultural and linguistic needs, aimed at addressing and improving school attendance.

5. Persistent Unexcused Absences: If unexcused absences continue and there is a lack of engagement with offered services, educational neglect must be reported, triggering further action from the welfare agency.

6. Funding: The bill appropriates funds for the fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to support child welfare response efforts related to educational neglect and improving school attendance.

The bill emphasizes improving school attendance through early intervention, monitoring, and support services, with a view to addressing underlying issues that lead to truancy and educational neglect. It underscores a community and responsive approach to keeping children in school by providing necessary support and interventions.