A new state law in Indiana for the 2024-25 school year is aimed at reducing chronic absenteeism among students. The legislation requires schools to actively identify and address students who are frequently absent. Students will be considered truant if they miss 10 or more school days without a valid excuse. The law also introduces legal consequences for parents of habitually truant students, sparking debates over its fairness and impact on families.
WISH-TV contributor Emil Ekiyor discussed the new law on News 8, addressing concerns about its effectiveness, especially for younger students. Critics have raised questions about whether the approach will effectively target the root causes of truancy, or if it may place undue pressure on families.
The aim of the legislation is to ensure that students attend school regularly and do not fall behind in their academic progress. By holding schools accountable for addressing chronic absenteeism and implementing consequences for parents of truant students, lawmakers hope to improve student attendance rates and ultimately enhance educational outcomes.
It remains to be seen how the new law will be implemented and whether it will achieve its intended goals. As discussions continue around the fairness and impact of the legislation, educators, parents, and policymakers will be closely monitoring its effects on student attendance and academic performance in the coming school year.
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