D.C. law called for five high-truancy schools to refer teens

The law directed the Mayor to choose five schools and called for those schools to refer covered teens to the Department of Human Services. The Mayor was to choose D.C. secondary schools with truancy rates above 50% in 2023–24. Referrals covered their students ages 14 through 17. A student had to reach 15 unexcused full-day absences in one school year before a referral was due. The pilot was set for the 2024–25 school year. Schools were to refer students within two school days after their fifteenth unexcused full-day absence; the law took effect afterward.

The Department of Human Services was to publish two reports about the pilot. The reports covered any teens referred under the pilot and compared the planned pilot schools with schools serving similar students. The reports were to describe services and common reasons for absences, then compare attendance, school performance, and arrests over time. The preliminary report was due March 31, 2025, and the final report August 15, 2025. Both dates came before the law took effect.

The law excused participating schools from a separate attendance rule. This covered only schools participating in the pilot and their students ages 14 through 17. The exemption ended when the temporary law expired, 225 days after it took effect.