SB 969

Beginning in the 2025-26 school year, this bill prohibits a school board, the

governing body of a private school participating in a parental choice program, and

the operator of an independent charter school from promoting a pupil to the next

grade if the pupil was absent from school for more than the equivalent of 30 full days

of school during the school year. Under the bill, absences on days of school for which

the compulsory school attendance law does not apply to a pupil are not counted for

this purpose. Under current law, the compulsory school attendance law does not

apply to a pupil if 1) the pupil is excused because the pupil is temporarily not in

proper physical or mental condition to attend a school program but is expected to

return to a school program upon termination or abatement of the illness or condition;

2) the pupil is excused in accordance with a written attendance policy and with the

written approval of the pupil's parent or guardian; 3) the pupil is excused in writing

by his or her parent or guardian before the absence; or 4) the pupil is excused in

writing by the pupil's parent or guardian and by the principal of the pupil's school

for the purpose of serving as an election official.

The bill requires each school board, governing body of a private school

participating in a parental choice program, and the operator of an independent

charter school, by July 1, 2025, to adopt a written policy for grade promotion that

requires that a pupil not have missed more than the equivalent of 30 full days of

school in order to be eligible to be promoted to the next grade. Current law requires

school boards, governing bodies of a private schools participating in a parental choice

program, and operators of independent charter schools to adopt written policies that

specify criteria for promoting a pupil from fourth grade to fifth grade and from eighth

grade to ninth grade, and by July 1, 2025, for promoting a pupil from third grade to

fourth grade.