A new bill making its way through the Georgia Senate aims to change how schools respond to chronically absent students. Senate Bill 123, introduced by Senate President Pro Tempore John F. Kennedy, seeks to prohibit public schools from expelling students simply due to chronic absenteeism.
If put into place, the bill would prohibit expelling students solely for excessive absences and instead focus on creating a supportive environment for struggling students. Absentee review committees would work with students and families to identify and address the root causes of the absences.
“For far too long, absenteeism has affected our communities and inhibited Georgia students from reaching their full potential,” Kennedy said. “This legislation will enable local school districts to identify and implement protocols that directly address this issue, get our chronically absent students back in the classroom and ensure they have the necessary resources to build a foundation for future success.”
Students may miss school for a variety of reasons, including mental health challenges, family instability, lack of transportation or economic hardship. For some, responsibilities such as caring for younger siblings or holding part-time jobs contribute to their absences.
In many cases, these students are already under stress, and further disciplinary action can make it even harder for them to engage with their education.
“Chronic absenteeism refers to the number of students missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, divided by the number of students enrolled,” said the Georgia Department of Education. “Georgia’s current chronic absenteeism rate is 20.7% .”
Under the bill, Georgia’s current compulsory attendance law will stay in effect. This requires children between the ages of six and sixteen to attend a public or private school or participate in a home study program.
The bill would clarify that this requirement no longer applies to students who have already earned a high school diploma or a state-approved high school equivalency diploma.
“I think the bill will be a good thing for students to help them as opposed to punish them,” Rachel Tew said, a sophomore public health major. “Hopefully, with the solutions offered, they can attend school more often. I think it is a win-win situation.”
Many feel that the proposed bill could have a significant impact on students who are struggling with attendance for various reasons.
The proposed bill emphasizes the importance of local absentee review committees. These committees would consist of educators, counselors and administrators who will work directly with students and their families to develop individualized plans to address absenteeism.
By taking a more personalized approach, the bill hopes to provide students with the necessary resources, such as tutoring or counseling, that might help resolve the underlying issues affecting their attendance.
“I believe that finding a solution is better than just expelling, which in turn creates bigger problems,” said Julie Simmons, a junior mass communication major. “I think this bill will be a good thing.”
Critics argue that schools already stretched thin may struggle to find the staff or funding needed to support these committees and provide consistent interventions. Others worry about how effectiveness will be measured and whether students will respond to the proposed support systems.
The bill has already sparked debate in the legislature, with some lawmakers questioning the best course of action to address absenteeism. Senate Bill 123 is still in the early stages of the legislative process, and it will be up for further discussion and revisions before it can be put to a vote.
With chronic absenteeism being a growing concern in schools across Georgia, supporters of the bill hope that its passage could pave the way for a more compassionate, solution-driven approach to student success.