HB1201: A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning education.

Page last updated: Sunday, April 20, 2025 at 7:06 PM (America/Indianapolis).

General Information

• Stage: House Bill (S)
• Current Chamber: senate
• Origin Chamber: house
• Description: Education matters.

Legislators

Actions (11 total)

• Feb 18, 2025, 6:42 AM: First reading: referred to Committee on Education and Career Development
• Jan 31, 2025, 9:29 AM: Referred to the Senate
• Jan 30, 2025, 7:56 AM: Third reading: passed; Roll Call 51: yeas 87, nays 0
• Jan 30, 2025, 7:55 AM: Cosponsor: Senator Donato
• Jan 30, 2025, 7:55 AM: Senate sponsor: Senator Raatz
• Jan 29, 2025, 8:48 AM: Second reading: ordered engrossed
• Jan 27, 2025, 10:52 AM: Representative Smith V added as coauthor
• Jan 27, 2025, 10:52 AM: Representative Klinker added as coauthor
• Jan 27, 2025, 9:26 AM: Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
• Jan 8, 2025, 4:53 AM: First reading: referred to Committee on Education
• Jan 8, 2025, 4:53 AM: Authored by Representative Behning

Digest

Defines "chronically absent". Requires the department of education (department) to do the following: (1) Create a list of best practices to reduce student discipline and chronic absenteeism. (2) Study and prepare a report regarding the basis for the categorization of certain suspensions and expulsions. (3) Establish a categorization framework to distinguish between excused and unexcused absences based on the reason for the absence. (4) Collect certain information regarding absences from school corporations and charter schools. (5) Prepare and post a report regarding the information on the department's website. Provides that the absence policy adopted by the governing body of a school corporation must provide for the categorization of excused and unexcused absences in accordance with the categorization framework established by the department. Allows a prosecuting attorney to conduct a meeting, collaborate, and make reasonable efforts to secure appropriate support services for a child and the child's family before filing an affidavit with regard to a violation of compulsory school attendance requirements. Requires a public school to hold an attendance conference not later than 10 instructional days (instead of five instructional days) after the student's fifth absence. Prohibits a public school from expelling or suspending a student solely because the student is chronically absent or a habitual truant.