HR711: HR711 House Study Committee on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education; create

LC 52 0861S The House Committee on Rules offers the following substitute to HR 711: A RESOLUTION Creating the House Study Committee on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education; and for1 other purposes.2 WHEREAS, chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10 percent or more of school days, is3 a critical barrier to student achievement and negatively impact s literacy rates, academic4 performance, and long-term education and career outcomes; and5 WHEREAS, literacy and workforce readiness are key priorities for the state, and evidence6 based programs aimed at improving student achievement cannot be effective if students are7 not consistently present to benefit from instruction; and8 WHEREAS, the State of Georgia had a chronic absenteeism rate of 21.7 percent in 2024,9 with significant outliers in both rural and urban schools; and10 WHEREAS, Atlanta Public Schools reported a chronic absenteeism rate of 35.4 percent in11 the 2022-2023 school year, a sharp increase from 21 percent in the 2018-2019 school year;12 and13 - 1 - LC 52 0861S WHEREAS, Decatur County Schools reported a chronic absenteeism rate of 38.1 percent in14 the 2023-2024 school year, a sharp increase from 22.1 percent in the 2018-2019 school year;15 and16 WHEREAS, absenteeism can be attributed to a variety of factors, including, but not limited17 to, health issues, family instability, socioeconomic barriers, transportation difficulties, and18 school climate concerns; and19 WHEREAS, addressing chronic absenteeism requires a collaborativ e and multifaceted20 approach that involves school administrators, educators, parent s, policymakers, and21 community organizations; and22 WHEREAS, research has shown that early intervention and targeted support programs can23 significantly reduce chronic absenteeism and its negative effects; and24 WHEREAS, in December, 2024, the Department of Education demonstrated its commitment25 to addressing this issue by hosting a summit which was attended by representatives from26 multiple state agencies, education organizations, and local school systems in an effort to raise27 awareness and develop collaborative solutions; and28 WHEREAS, a comprehensive review of student attendance in pre-k indergarten through29 grade 12 education is needed for legislators, education leaders, and community stakeholders30 to examine the root causes of chronic absenteeism, evaluate bes t practices for improving31 student attendance and engagement, and recommend legislative an d policy initiatives to32 improve student attendance and engagement.33 - 2 - LC 52 0861S NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:34 (1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee35 on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education.36 (2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of six members of the37 House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker House of Repr esentatives. The38 Speaker House of Representatives shall designate a member of th e committee as39 chairperson of the committee.40 (3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs,41 issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or42 legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.43 (4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee44 may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or45 convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and46 accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.47 (5) Allowances and funding.48 (A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided49 for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.50 (B) The allowances and expenses authorized by this resolution shall not be received51 by any member of the committee for more than three days unless additional days are52 authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come53 from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives.54 (6) Report.55 (A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that56 include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the57 same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolut ion, subject to58 subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.59 - 3 - LC 52 0861S (B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not i nclude suggestions for60 proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C)61 of this paragraph.62 (C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of63 abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. 64 A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with65 the Clerk of the House of Representatives.66 (D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the67 House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu68 thereof.69 (7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.70 - 4 -