VermontVermont schools would adopt policies to address chronic absences
Starting July 1, 2026, Vermont schools would use attendance policies and follow new steps when students reach 20 unexcused absences.
What it does
The Agency of Education must prepare guidance and recordkeeping templates for schools addressing chronic absences and truancy. The guidance must cover reasons for excused absences and issues that can affect attendance, including disability and bullying.
Each school board must adopt a policy to prevent chronic absences and truancy. The policy must be at least as strict as the Agency of Education’s model policy.
After a student reaches 20 unexcused absences within the stated period, school officials must notify the truancy officer and child welfare agency. If the parent or guardian still does not ensure attendance, the State’s Attorney may prosecute them or file a court petition concerning the child.
The act summary says officials would no longer have authority to stop public-school students ages six through 16 wherever they are found and take them to school. It also removes a fine for certain school officials who violate attendance and discipline laws.
During a suspension of three or more days or an expulsion, a school may offer tutoring, learning materials, or assignments. The school must still provide any educational access that other law requires.
Argument forSchools could use shared guidance and recordkeeping tools to address absences consistently and account for issues such as disability or bullying.
Argument againstFamilies could face prosecution or a court petition after repeated unexcused absences, even when a student’s attendance problems are difficult to resolve.
More detail
The Agency of Education must prepare a model policy and procedures for preventing chronic absences and truancy. The guidance covers chronic absences and truancy in Vermont schools. The policy must guide schools on excused absences, requests for justification, and absences involving a child with a disability. It must also consider how hazing, harassment, and bullying affect attendance. The Agency must publish the model policy by July 1, 2027, and review it at least every three years.
Each school board must adopt a policy to prevent chronic absenteeism and truancy. This applies to each Vermont school board. The board’s policy must be at least as strict as the Agency of Education’s model policy. School boards must adopt their policies by July 1, 2028.
A principal must alert the superintendent when a student reaches 20 or more unexcused absences; the superintendent must then alert the truancy officer and the Department for Children and Families. This applies when a student has 20 or more unexcused absences in one school year or within the last 175 consecutive student attendance days. The truancy officer must file a complaint with the county State’s Attorney if the parent or guardian continues to fail to make the child attend school as required. The State’s Attorney may prosecute the parent or guardian or file a court petition concerning the child. The 20-absence count covers one school year or the last 175 consecutive student attendance days.
The act repeals authority to take certain students found away from school and bring them to school, and removes a fine for certain school officials who violate attendance and discipline laws. The repealed authority covered public-school students ages six through 16; the repealed fine applied to superintendents, truancy officers, or teachers. These provisions take effect July 1, 2026.
A public or approved independent school may offer alternative education during a suspension of three or more days or an expulsion. This applies to students suspended for at least three days or expelled from a public or approved independent school. Possible support includes tutoring, learning materials, and assignments. Schools must still provide educational access to the extent otherwise required by law. This permission applies during any suspension lasting at least three days or during any expulsion.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 29House message: Governor approved bill on June 8, 2026Latest
- May 29Signed by Governor Phil Scott on June 8, 2026Became Law
- May 29Delivered to Governor on June 2, 2026To Governor
- May 19House message: House concurred in Senate proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 14Senate proposal of amendment concurred inMinor
- May 14Action Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 13Notice Calendar: Senate Proposal of AmendmentMinor
- May 12Senate Message: Passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentMinor
- May 8Read 3rd time & passed in concurrence with proposal of amendmentPassed 2nd Chamber
- Vote recorded Roll Call, requested by Senator Heffernan, Failed -- Needed 15 of 30 to Pass -- Yeas = 6, Nays = 24. Result: fail.Upper
- May 8Roll Call, Requested by Sen. Heffernan
- May 8Roll Call, requested by Senator Heffernan, Failed -- Needed 15 of 30 to Pass -- Yeas = 6, Nays = 24
- May 8Pending third reading, Senator Gulick proposal of amendment, disagreed toMinor
- May 8Proposal of amendment to be offered by Senator(s) GulickMinor
- May 8New Business/Third ReadingMinor
- May 73rd reading ordered
- May 7Proposal of amendment by Committee on Education agreed toMinor
- May 7Read 2nd time, reported favorably with proposal of amendment by Senator Bongartz for Committee on EducationMinor
- May 7Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on EducationMinor
- May 7Unfinished Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 6Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on EducationMinor
- May 6New Business/Second ReadingMinor
- May 5Favorable report with proposal of amendment by Committee on EducationMinor
- May 5Second ReadingMinor
- May 5Entered on Notice Calendar
- Mar 25Read 1st time & referred to Committee on EducationMinor
- Mar 20Read third time and passedPassed 1st Chamber
- Mar 20Rep. Burrows of West Windsor and LaMont of Morristown moved to amend the bill, which was agreed to
- Mar 20Rep. Chapin of East Montpelier moved to amend the bill, which was agreed to
- Mar 20Action Calendar: Action postponed until March 20, 2026
- Mar 19Rep. Hunter of Manchester moved to postpone action until March 20, 2026, which was agreed to
- Mar 19Action Calendar: Third ReadingMinor
- Mar 18Third Reading orderedMinor
- Mar 18Rep. Hunter of Manchester spoke for the Committee on Education
- Mar 18Read second timeMinor
- Mar 18Action Calendar: Committee bill for second readingMinor
- Mar 17Notice Calendar: Committee bill for second readingMinor
- Mar 13Committee bill read the first time and placed on Notice Calendar of March 17, 2026Introduced
EducationDisability RightsForeign Policy