PRINTER'S NO. 2038
No. 1603 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY SAURMAN, GREENWOOD, FOX, BOOK, HAGARTY, NAHILL,
CORNELL, E. Z. TAYLOR AND HERSHEY, JUNE 28, 1985
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 28, 1985
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," requiring schools to notify parents
6 or legal guardians when students are absent.
7 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
8 hereby enacts as follows:
9 Section 1. Section 1354 of the act of March 10, 1949
10 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949,
11 amended January 14, 1970 (1969 P.L.468, No.192), is amended to
12 read:
13 Section 1354. Report of Children not Enrolling, or
14 Withdrawing, or Being Illegally Absent.--(a) It shall be the
15 duty of every principal or teacher of a public school to report
16 immediately to the attendance officer, district superintendent,
17 or secretary of the board of school directors, the names of all
18 children in the list furnished to him who have not appeared for
19 enrollment, and he shall also properly report, from time to
1 time, to the attendance officer, district superintendent, or
2 secretary of the board of school directors, the names of all
3 children who having enrolled have subsequently withdrawn from
4 school, or who have been absent three (3) days, or their
5 equivalent, without lawful excuse. Such person shall thereupon
6 serve upon the parent, guardian, or other person in parental
7 relation to such children unlawfully absent from school, the
8 written notice hereinbefore provided, and if it shall appear
9 that, within three (3) days thereafter, any child, parent,
10 guardian, or other person in parental relation shall have failed
11 to comply with the provisions of this act, the superintendent,
12 attendance officer, or secretary of the board of school
13 directors, in the name of the school district, shall proceed
14 against the person so offending, in accordance with the
15 provisions of this act.
16 (b) It shall be the duty of every public and nonpublic
17 school, within two (2) hours of the opening of the school day,
18 to call the parent or legal guardian of any student in
19 kindergarten through grade twelve who is absent from school.
20 Public and nonpublic schools are relieved of any and all
21 liability for children not in school after the parent or
22 guardian has been notified of the student's absence.
23 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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