2017 Montana Legislature

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HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 32

INTRODUCED BY M. DUNWELL

 

A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA REQUESTING AN INTERIM STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND ATTENDANCE, CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM, AND TRUANCY IN THE K-12 EDUCATION SYSTEM; AND REQUIRING THAT THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE STUDY BE REPORTED TO THE 66TH LEGISLATURE.

 

     WHEREAS, the Montana Constitution was ordained and established based on the desire to improve the quality of life, equality of opportunity, and to secure the blessings of liberty for this and future generations; and

     WHEREAS, the Montana Constitution enshrined as a goal of the people the establishment of a system of education that develops the full educational potential of each person; and

     WHEREAS, the future of Montana depends on students in our schools developing their educational potential, achieving highly, and graduating; and

     WHEREAS, improved attendance rates have been proven to directly impact student achievement and graduation rates; and

     WHEREAS, states are now required under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act to report chronic absenteeism in schools and federal resources may be available to address chronic absenteeism; and

     WHEREAS, strategies for addressing chronic absenteeism and truancy are evolving at the classroom, school, district, and state policy levels.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:

     That the Legislative Council be requested to designate an appropriate interim committee, pursuant to section 5-5-217, MCA, to study the relationship between student achievement and attendance, chronic absenteeism, and truancy in the K-12 education system.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the study:

     (1) work in collaboration with the Board of Public Education, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and school district trustees and involve input from teachers, administrators, parents, and students;

     (2) examine research on the effects of school attendance on student achievement;

     (3) review attendance rates in Montana schools with data disaggregated for subgroups of students and examine any correlation between attendance and achievement gaps among these subgroups;

     (4) investigate the social factors that impact truancy and chronic absenteeism and promising strategies for improving attendance;

     (5) determine whether statutory changes would improve attendance rates, thereby helping to achieve Montana's constitutional goal of establishing a system of education that develops the full educational potential of all students and benefits the people of the state of Montana.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all aspects of the study, including presentation and review requirements, be concluded prior to September 15, 2018.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the final results of the study, including any findings, conclusions, comments, or recommendations of the appropriate committee, be reported to the 66th Legislature.

- END -

 


Latest Version of HJ 32 (HJ0032.01)
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