AB 172

Under current law, the school attendance officer of a school district (attendance

officer) must notify the parent or guardian of a pupil who has been absent from school

without an excuse for two full school days of the child's truancy. The attendance

officer may provide that notice by personal contact or through a telephone call, or,

if the attendance officer is unable to make contact with the parent or guardian, by

mail. Also under current law, the attendance officer must notify the parent or

guardian of a pupil who is a habitual truant of the pupil's habitual truancy by

certified or registered mail. Current law defines a habitual truant as a pupil who is

absent from school without an acceptable excuse for part or all of five or more school

days during a school semester.

This bill adds notice by first class mail to the methods of notifying the parent

or guardian of a habitual truant. The bill also permits the attendance officer to

simultaneously notify the parent or guardian by an electronic communication.