LINCOLN — Saying students can’t learn if they aren’t in school, Gov. Dave Heineman signed a truancy bill Wednesday that builds on last year’s law changes.
“As parents and policymakers, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to encourage our young people to stay in school and prepare for the demanding and knowledge-based careers of tomorrow,” he said.
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At the same time, Heineman said, schools need to use “common sense” in implementing truancy laws.
Legislative Bill 463 orders school districts to address cases of documented illness in their truancy policies.
Under a provision passed last year, those policies must be developed in cooperation with the local county attorney.
The policies must provide for some means of early intervention once a child exceeds five absences within a quarter.
Schools also must refer students to the county attorney when the students reach 20 days of absence within a year, whether those absences are excused or unexcused.
Several parents have complained about how last year’s law is being enforced, especially when a child misses school for illness.
Heineman, traditionally a supporter of limited government, said he believes the truancy law strikes a “proper balance.”
He said he hopes that school boards, superintendents and county attorneys in responding to student absences will take into account whether they have been excused.
But a review is needed when a student misses more than 20 days of school, no matter the reason, Heineman said.
“Twenty days is a lot,” Heineman said, adding that he doesn’t think he ever missed that much school in a year.
Reducing truancy is important to boost student achievement, he said.
State data show that 23,000 Nebraska students missed 20 or more days of school last year and that 11th-graders who miss that much school score an average of 30 points lower on the statewide reading test.
Bringing the juvenile justice and education systems together is critical to keeping young people safe and fostering their academic success, said Sen. Brad Ashford of Omaha, who introduced the bill.
LB 463 requires the 11 school districts within the Omaha-area Learning Community to develop a plan by Aug. 1 for reducing truancy.
The plan would have to include sharing of information between schools and the child welfare, juvenile justice and probation systems.
The bill also provides $100,000 for the court system to increase diversion programs for truants.
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