| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to excused absences in public schools. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 25.087, Education Code, is amended by |
|
|
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
|
|
follows: |
|
|
(b) A school district shall excuse a student from attending |
|
|
school for the purpose of: |
|
|
(1) observing religious holy days, including |
|
|
traveling for that purpose; |
|
|
(2) attending an appointment with a [. A school
|
|
|
district shall excuse a student for temporary absence resulting
|
|
|
from] health care professional [professionals] if the [that] |
|
|
student commences classes or returns to school on the same day of |
|
|
the appointment; or |
|
|
(3) visiting the State Capitol or a state or national |
|
|
park with the student's family, provided that: |
|
|
(A) a district is not required to excuse more |
|
|
than two days for this purpose during each school year; and |
|
|
(B) the student must submit a brief essay that |
|
|
describes the student's experiences while visiting the State |
|
|
Capitol or park and summarizes the historical, scientific, or other |
|
|
academic subject area information learned by the student during the |
|
|
visit. |
|
|
(c) A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b) |
|
|
[this subsection] may not be penalized for that absence and shall be |
|
|
counted as if the student attended school for purposes of |
|
|
calculating the average daily attendance of students in the school |
|
|
district. A student whose absence is excused under Subsection (b) |
|
|
[this subsection] shall be allowed a reasonable time to make up |
|
|
school work missed on those days. If the student satisfactorily |
|
|
completes the school work, the day of absence shall be counted as a |
|
|
day of compulsory attendance. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2007-2008 |
|
|
school year. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |