PRINTER'S NO. 605
No. 567 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY GREENLEAF, SALVATORE, HOPPER, REIBMAN, PECORA AND
SHUMAKER, FEBRUARY 21, 1989
REFERRED TO EDUCATION, FEBRUARY 21, 1989
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
2 act relating to the public school system, including certain
3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
5 laws relating thereto," providing for absentee verification.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Section 1354 of the act of March 10, 1949
9 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
10 amended January 14, 1970 (1969 P.L.468, No.192), is amended to
11 read:
12 Section 1354. Report of Children not Enrolling, or
13 Withdrawing, or Being Illegally Absent.--(a) It shall be the
14 duty of every principal or teacher of a public school to report
15 immediately to the attendance officer, district superintendent,
16 or secretary of the board of school directors, the names of all
17 children in the list furnished to him who have not appeared for
18 enrollment, and he shall also properly report, from time to
19 time, to the attendance officer, district superintendent, or
1 secretary of the board of school directors, the names of all
2 children who having enrolled have subsequently withdrawn from
3 school, or who have been absent three (3) days, or their
4 equivalent, without lawful excuse. Such person shall thereupon
5 serve upon the parent, guardian, or other person in parental
6 relation to such children unlawfully absent from school, the
7 written notice hereinbefore provided, and if it shall appear
8 that, within three (3) days thereafter, any child, parent,
9 guardian, or other person in parental relation shall have failed
10 to comply with the provisions of this act, the superintendent,
11 attendance officer, or secretary of the board of school
12 directors, in the name of the school district, shall proceed
13 against the person so offending, in accordance with the
14 provisions of this act.
15 (b) Public schools shall follow an absentee verification
16 procedure prescribed in regulations of the Department of
17 Education. The regulations shall establish a system for cross-
18 checking absences by telephone and notifying law enforcement
19 authorities immediately of unexplained absences.
20 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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