SB 581: Relating to school attendance and student participation in 4-H activities - West Virginia

sb581 sfat martin _1 4-12 adopted.htm → sb581 sfat rucker _1 3-5 adopted.htm · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill sponsor changed from Senator Martin to Senator Rucker, and the amendment's scope was narrowed from multiple student organizations to only 4-H or FFA programs. This reduces the number of organizations eligible for excused absence status and removes requirements for documentation from other groups like SkillsUSA and HOSA.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from covering multiple student organizations to only 4-H or FFA programs.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed eligibility for excused absence for students in SkillsUSA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), Common Ground Partnership, and other organizations, keeping only 4-H or FFA programs.

REQUIREMENT

Changed documentation requirements from a general agent-provided proof to a specific requirement that 4-H or FFA agents provide documentation only upon request from the principal or designee.

Removed the provision limiting total excused absences to no more than 10 per school year.

Removed the provision stating that the amendment would not interfere with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

sb581 sfa rucker _1 3-5 adopted.htm → sb581 sfat martin _1 4-12 adopted.htm · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill sponsor changed from Senator Rucker to Senator Martin, and the amendment was expanded from a simple paragraph addition to a comprehensive title substitution. The new language clarifies that the bill expands excused absences to include up to five college visits and participation in recognized student organizations like SkillsUSA, FBLA, HOSA, 4-H, and FFA.

Scope change

The bill now explicitly covers student participation in sanctioned organizations and college visits as excused absences, with provisions for makeup work, grade credit, and documentation requirements.

ELIGIBILITY

Expanded excused absence eligibility to include up to five college visits per school year and participation in recognized student organizations such as SkillsUSA, FBLA, HOSA, Common Ground Partnership, 4-H, and FFA.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements that students must be credited as present and not counted as absent during sanctioned activities, with makeup work and grade credit provisions.

Added documentation requirements where organization agents must provide proof of student participation in sanctioned activities.

Added a 10-absence-per-year limit on certain excused absences and provisions for students during suspension, expulsion, or alternative school assignments.

DEFINITION

Added explicit reference to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to ensure the bill does not interfere with federal requirements.

sb581 sfa martin _1 4-12 adopted.htm → sb581 sfa rucker _1 3-5 adopted.htm · 4 edits

MODERATE

The amendment sponsor changed from Senator Martin to Senator Rucker, and the amendment scope was significantly altered. The original amendment focused on attendance credit for student organization activities (SkillsUSA, FBLA, HOSA, etc.), while the new amendment adds college visit opportunities and restructures the remaining paragraphs. This changes how students can use educational activities for attendance purposes.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include college visits as an additional educational activity eligible for attendance credit, while the original focus on specific student organizations was removed.

SCOPE

Added provision allowing up to five college visits per student for attendance credit purposes

ELIGIBILITY

Removed specific eligibility criteria for student organization activities including SkillsUSA, FBLA, HOSA, Common Ground Partnership, 4-H, and FFA

REQUIREMENT

Removed requirements for documentation, make-up work, and grade protection for student organization activities

Restructured remaining paragraphs by re-lettering after adding the new college visit provision

sb581 hfat ellington 4-11 adopted.htm → sb581 sfa martin _1 4-12 adopted.htm · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to replace a single paragraph describing excused absences for student organization participation with four detailed subsections that clarify when students can be credited as present, documentation requirements, makeup work expectations, and restrictions during suspensions or expulsions.

Scope change

The scope of excused absences for student organization participation was refined to explicitly exclude participation during disciplinary suspensions, expulsions, or alternative school assignments that would prevent field trip attendance.

REQUIREMENT

Added four specific subsections (i-iv) replacing the original single paragraph to provide clearer rules on crediting attendance, documentation, makeup work, and disciplinary restrictions.

New restriction preventing credit for excused absences when students participate in sanctioned activities during suspension, expulsion, or alternative school assignments that would otherwise prevent field trip attendance.

DEFINITION

Clarified that school principals or designees must not count students absent for organization activities and must not credit them as present during disciplinary periods.

sb581 h edu am _1 adopted.htm → sb581 hfat ellington 4-11 adopted.htm · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand the definition of excused absences for students, adding provisions for college visits and participation in recognized student organizations. The changes also clarify documentation requirements and ensure compliance with federal education laws while maintaining limits on total excused absences.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a general compulsory attendance framework to specifically include new categories of excused absences related to higher education exploration and extracurricular student organization participation.

ELIGIBILITY

Added up to five college visits as excused absences for students

Added participation in recognized student organizations (SkillsUSA, FBLA, HOSA, 4-H, FFA) as excused absences

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for student organizations to provide documentation at least five days before activities and for schools to credit students as present for these activities

Added provisions ensuring students' grades are not adversely affected for missed work during sanctioned student organization activities

Added provision stating the changes do not interfere with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) federal law

DEFINITION

Added definitions for 'meaningful contact' and 'System of Support Plan' to clarify truancy intervention procedures

Committee Substitute → sb581 h edu am _1 adopted.htm · 8 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to expand excused absences beyond just 4-H and FFA programs to include up to five college visits and participation in other recognized student organizations like SkillsUSA and FBLA. The amendment also added new requirements for attendance directors to make meaningful contact at three and five unexcused absences, and expanded enforcement procedures for handling truancy cases. Additionally, the total number of excused absences for various activities was capped at 10 per school year.

Scope change

Expanded from only 4-H and FFA programs to include college visits and other recognized student organizations

ELIGIBILITY

Added up to five college visits as an excused absence category

Added participation in other recognized student organizations (SkillsUSA, FBLA, HOSA, Common Ground Partnership) as excused absences

REQUIREMENT

Changed documentation timing from 'upon request' to 'at least five days prior to the activity' for student organization participation

Added requirement for attendance directors to make meaningful contact at three unexcused absences to ascertain reasons and assist with attendance

Added requirement for attendance directors to make meaningful contact at five unexcused absences

Added cap limiting total excused absences under sections E, H, and I to 10 per school year

ENFORCEMENT

Expanded enforcement procedures to include complaint filing against parents/guardians at 10 unexcused absences with specific timelines for summons/warrant service and court hearings

DEFINITION

Added provision stating the section does not interfere with Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which does not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences

Enrolled Committee Substitute → Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

This bill narrows the scope of excused absences for student organizations by removing recognition of multiple organizations (SkillsUSA, FBLA, HOSA, Common Ground Partnership) and limiting the excused absence provision to only 4-H and FFA-sponsored activities. It also removes the cap of five college visits from the excused absence definition. The change reduces the number of organizations whose sanctioned activities count as excused absences, while maintaining protections for 4-H and FFA participants.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed from covering multiple student organizations to only 4-H and FFA, and college visits were removed from the excused absence definition.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed recognition of SkillsUSA, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), and Common Ground Partnership as organizations whose sanctioned activities count as excused absences.

Removed the provision allowing up to five college visits to count as excused absences.

DEFINITION

Changed the excused absence definition to only include 4-H or FFA-sponsored activities instead of multiple organizations.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the 10-excuse cap limitation that applied to absences under paragraphs (E), (H), and (I), which previously included the broader range of organizations.

Engrossed Committee Substitute → Enrolled Committee Substitute · 6 edits · Apr 24, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was transitioned from a committee substitute version to an enrolled final version, adding new provisions and expanding eligibility for excused absences. The enrolled version includes additional student organizations beyond 4-H and FFA, adds a new subsection requiring documentation within three instructional days, and includes new enforcement procedures for unexcused absences. These changes broaden the scope of excused activities and strengthen attendance enforcement mechanisms.

Scope change

Expanded from only 4-H and FFA programs to include additional student organizations like SkillsUSA, FBLA, HOSA, and the Common Ground Partnership, and added new procedural requirements for documentation and enforcement.

ELIGIBILITY

Added additional student organizations (SkillsUSA, FBLA, HOSA, Common Ground Partnership) to the list of sanctioned organizations whose activities count as excused absences

REQUIREMENT

Added new subsection (c) requiring all absence documentation to be provided to the school within three instructional days after the student returns

Added new subsection (J) limiting the total amount of excused absences under paragraphs (E), (H), and (I) to no more than 10 per school year

ENFORCEMENT

Added new subsections (d) through (j) establishing specific procedures for meaningful contact, complaint filing, hearings, and additional duties for attendance directors

DEFINITION

Added new subsection (K) clarifying that nothing in the section interferes with the Every Student Succeeds Act

TECHNICAL

Added legislative certification language, signatures, and effective date provisions typical of enrolled bills

Introduced Version → Engrossed Committee Substitute · 5 edits · Apr 12, 2025

MODERATE

This bill expands the definition of excused absences in West Virginia to include up to five college visits per school year and adds FFA-sponsored activities alongside 4-H activities. It also strengthens enforcement by adding a new provision for five unexcused absences requiring meaningful contact, and clarifies procedures for complaints at 10 unexcused absences.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of excused absences to include college visits and FFA activities, and adds a new enforcement tier for five unexcused absences.

ELIGIBILITY

Added up to five college visits per school year as an excused absence.

Expanded 4-H activity provisions to include FFA-sponsored activities or programs.

REQUIREMENT

Added new subsection (e) requiring meaningful contact with parents after five total unexcused absences.

DEFINITION

Updated the list of excused absence categories to include college visits and FFA activities.

ENFORCEMENT

Clarified complaint procedures and added specific timelines for summons/warrant service and court hearings.

Relating to school attendance and student participation in 4-H activities

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