SF1781

SF1781 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Student attendance statutes references provision

Related bill: HF62

AI Generated Summary

This bill, S.F. No. 1781, relates to student attendance laws in Minnesota and aims to compile references to existing statutes governing student attendance into one new section in Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 120A.

Key Provisions:

Age of Instruction – Clarifies compulsory attendance requirements and limits on public school admission based on age.
District of Residence – Specifies that students can attend public schools in their home district for free and outlines conditions for attending schools outside their resident district. A nonresident district may terminate enrollment for habitual truancy.
Nonpublic School Student Reporting – Requires nonpublic schools or individuals providing instruction to report to the district superintendent.
Transportation – Defines school transportation responsibilities, including for general students and those attending alternative learning centers. School districts are permitted to revoke bus privileges under certain conditions.
Students with Disabilities – Mandates transportation and education services for students with disabilities pursuant to IDEA and Minnesota law.
Funding – Allows school districts to use general or reserved basic skills funding for truancy reduction programs.
Absences – Grants parents the ability to apply for excused absences, including for religious or cultural instruction. Schools must accommodate religious observances.
Removal from Attendance Rolls – Requires students who are absent for 15 consecutive days to be withdrawn.
Truancy – Defines procedures for addressing truancy, including parental notification, implementing truancy programs, and possible referrals to county attorneys.
Maltreatment & Neglect – Identifies habitual truancy as a potential form of child neglect, making it reportable under child protection laws.
Criminal Penalties – Establishes penalties for failing to ensure a child's education, ranging from petty misdemeanors to felonies if a person contributes to habitual truancy.

Purpose:

The bill aims to centralize and clarify student attendance regulations, helping educators, parents, and officials understand the governing laws in one place. It includes provisions related to truancy prevention, transportation policies, students with disabilities, and legal consequences for failing to ensure attendance.

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Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
February 23, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
February 23, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
February 23, 2025	House	Floor	Action	Referred to	Education Policy
February 23, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Referred to	Education Policy
February 23, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Referred to	Education Policy

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references compulsory instruction requirements based on age under section 120A.22.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "120A.22",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 5"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references limitations on admission to public schools based on certain criteria under section 120A.20.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "120A.20",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill refers to section 124D.03 where nonresident district rules and termination of enrollment for habitual truants are addressed.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "124D.03",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 12"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references student reporting requirements for nonpublic schools under section 120A.24.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "120A.24",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill includes reference to student transportation provisions under section 123B.88.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "123B.88",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 13"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill refers to revocation of bus riding privileges under section 121A.59.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "121A.59",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This bill refers to provisions related to student transportation safety under section 123B.91.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "123B.91",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references operation of vehicles for student transportation in non-scheduled situations under section 169.454.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "169.454",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 13"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references student transportation provisions, specifically for students with disabilities, under section 123B.88.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "123B.88",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references provisions for a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities under chapter 125A.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "125A",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references the use of funds reserved for truancy reduction programs under section 126C.15.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "126C.15",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill outlines conditions under which a student may be excused from school attendance under section 120A.22.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "120A.22",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 12"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill addresses religious and cultural observance accommodations in schools under section 120A.35.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "120A.35",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill notes the removal of students from the enrollment rolls after consecutive absences as governed by section 126C.05.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "126C.05",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references truancy definitions, specifically continuing truants under section 260A.02.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260A.02",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill outlines parental or guardian notification requirements for truants under section 260A.03.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260A.03",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references truancy program frameworks provided under section 260A.04.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260A.04",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill mentions truancy mediation programs as governed by section 260A.07.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260A.07",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Student data disclosure to county attorneys in truancy cases as governed by section 13.32.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "13.32",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 3"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references the definition of a ‘child in need of protection or services’ under section 260C.007.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260C.007",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 6"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Definition of habitual truant as addressed under section 260C.007.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260C.007",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 19"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Parental intent and compliance with compulsory instruction laws addressed under section 260C.163.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260C.163",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 11"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill refers to reportable maltreatment of minors under section 260E.03.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260E.03",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 12"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Neglect including failure to ensure child's education is defined under section 260E.03.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "260E.03",
    "subdivision": "subdivision 15"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Failure to provide compulsory instruction incurs penalties as per section 120A.34.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "120A.34",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Criminal penalties for contributing to habitual truancy are outlined in section 609.26.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "609.26",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]