B 26-0275 Legislature · 26th Council Period (2025-2026)

Pilot Truancy Reduction Emergency Amendment Act of 2025

This bill establishes a one-year pilot program targeting secondary schools in Washington, D.C., with truancy rates exceeding 50% in 2023-2024. It requires these schools to refer students aged 14-17 who accumulate 15 unexcused absences to the Department of Human Services (DHS) within two school days. DHS must then provide interventions, document reasons for absences (like housing instability), and publish two reports by March and August 2025 comparing attendance, academic performance, and arrest rates before and after referrals. Participating schools are exempt from standard truancy reporting requirements for students in this age group during the pilot.
Bill status signed all 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2025
Committee Review
Council Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jun 2025
Introduced Jun 2, 2025 Signed Jun 26, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduction → Enrollment · 3 edits
MINOR
This bill was amended to expand the reporting requirements for a truancy pilot program and clarify how data should be compared. The original version required comparing student outcomes before and after referrals, while the amended version adds a requirement to compare participating schools with similar non-participating schools to ensure fair evaluation. This change strengthens the ability to assess whether the truancy intervention is actually effective.
Scope change
The bill's scope was expanded to include comparative analysis between participating and non-participating schools that are socio-demographically similar, making the evaluation more rigorous and scientifically valid.
REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement (subsection 3(D)(iii)) that the final report must compare attendance and academic performance of participating schools with non-participating schools that are socio-demographically similar, rather than just comparing students before and after referral.

DEFINITION

Added a new subsection (4) defining 'delinquency status' as whether a minor student was arrested by law enforcement during the analyzed time period, providing clarity for data collection.

EXEMPTIONS

Added a new subsection (5) exempting participating schools from mandatory attendance requirements for students aged 14-17 who are referred to DHS under the pilot program.

Floor votes · Council Jun 3, 2025

How they voted

12–0
Passed
Total votes 12
Jun 3, 2025
D Democratic10
10 Yea
100% Yea
I Independent2
2 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
8
Key actions
1
Committee
0
Jun 3, 2025
Council · Passed
Council Vote: pass (12-0)
council
Jun 2, 2025
Introduced
B26-0275 Introduced by Chairman Mendelson at Office of the Secretary
legislature
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Phil Mendelson
Phil Mendelson
DDemocratic
DC
Chairman