HR 711: House Study Committee on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education; create

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 for other purposes.

WHEREAS, chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10 percent or more of school days, is a critical barrier to student achievement and negatively impacts literacy rates, academic performance, and long-term education and career outcomes; and

WHEREAS, literacy and workforce readiness are key priorities for the state, and evidence based programs aimed at improving student achievement cannot be effective if students are not consistently present to benefit from instruction; and

WHEREAS, the State of Georgia had a chronic absenteeism rate of 21.7 percent in 2024, with significant outliers in both rural and urban schools; and

WHEREAS, Atlanta Public Schools reported a chronic absenteeism rate of 35.4 percent in the 2022-2023 school year, a sharp increase from 21 percent in the 2018-2019 school year; and

WHEREAS, Decatur County Schools reported a chronic absenteeism rate of 38.1 percent in the 2023-2024 school year, a sharp increase from 22.1 percent in the 2018-2019 school year; and

WHEREAS, absenteeism can be attributed to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, health issues, family instability, socioeconomic barriers, transportation difficulties, and school climate concerns; and

WHEREAS, addressing chronic absenteeism requires a collaborative and multifaceted approach that involves school administrators, educators, parents, policymakers, and community organizations; and

WHEREAS, research has shown that early intervention and targeted support programs can significantly reduce chronic absenteeism and its negative effects; and

WHEREAS, in December, 2024, the Department of Education demonstrated its commitment to addressing this issue by hosting a summit which was attended by representatives from multiple state agencies, education organizations, and local school systems in an effort to raise awareness and develop collaborative solutions; and

WHEREAS, a comprehensive review of student attendance in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 education is needed for legislators, education leaders, and community stakeholders to examine the root causes of chronic absenteeism, evaluate best practices for improving student attendance and engagement, and recommend legislative and policy initiatives to improve student attendance and engagement.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

(1) Creation of House study committee. There is created the House Study Committee on Student Attendance in PreK-12 Education.

(2) Members and officers. The committee shall be composed of six members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker House of Representatives. The Speaker House of Representatives shall designate a member of the committee as chairperson of the committee.

(3) Powers and duties. The committee shall undertake a study of the conditions, needs, issues, and problems mentioned above or related thereto and recommend any action or legislation which the committee deems necessary or appropriate.

(4) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.

(5) Allowances and funding.

(A) The legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.

(B) The allowances and expenses authorized by this resolution shall not be received by any member of the committee for more than three days unless additional days are authorized. Funds necessary to carry out the provisions of this resolution shall come from funds appropriated to the House of Representatives.

(6) Report.

(A) In the event the committee adopts any specific findings or recommendations that include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file a report of the same prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(B) In the event the committee adopts a report that does not include suggestions for proposed legislation, the chairperson shall file the report, subject to subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.

(C) No report shall be filed unless the same has been approved prior to the date of abolishment specified in this resolution by majority vote of a quorum of the committee. A report so approved shall be signed by the chairperson of the committee and filed with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

(D) In the absence of an approved report, the chairperson may file with the Clerk of the House of Representatives a copy of the minutes of the meetings of the committee in lieu thereof.

(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.