HB290 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Thad McClammy

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

School attendance, prior notice of prosecution for nonattendance requirement deleted, distribution and verification of receipt of school and state attendance policy required, Sec. 16-28-16 am'd.

Summary

HB290 would remove the notice requirement for intentional nonenrollment/nonattendance and require annual distribution and signed acknowledgment of the attendance policy to parents.

What This Bill Does

First, it would delete the requirement to provide notice to a parent in cases where nonenrollment or nonattendance is intentional and without a valid reason. Second, it would require the local school system to distribute a copy of the school attendance policy and applicable parts of the Alabama Compulsory School Attendance Law to each parent/guardian at the start of every school year and have them sign acknowledging receipt. Third, if the investigation shows nonenrollment or nonattendance was intentional and without a valid excuse, the attendance officer would still be required to pursue criminal prosecution against the parent/guardian. Fourth, it maintains a parental option to withdraw a child from public school before the current minimum compulsory attendance age if doing so is in the child’s best interest, with the act taking effect immediately after the governor's approval.

Who It Affects

• Parents, guardians, or other persons having control of a child enrolled in a school system will need to receive the attendance policy and sign an acknowledgment; they could face criminal prosecution if nonattendance is intentional and without a valid excuse.
• School systems, local superintendents, and attendance officers will be responsible for distributing the policy, collecting signatures, and enforcing attendance laws.

Key Provisions

• Deletes the requirement to give notice to the parent in cases where nonenrollment or nonattendance is intentional and without a valid reason.
• Requires the local superintendent to provide a copy of the school attendance policy and applicable law to each parent/guardian at the start of each school year, with the parent/guardian signing to verify receipt.
• If nonenrollment or nonattendance is intentional and without a valid excuse, the attendance officer must pursue criminal prosecution against the responsible parent/guardian.
• Allows a parent to withdraw a child from public school before the minimum compulsory attendance age if it is in the child’s best interest; the act becomes effective immediately upon governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education