William Penn SD proposes attendance-policy change that can limit cyber-charter transfers for habitually truant students

Dr. Harris presented Policy 204 on attendance at the William Penn School District policy committee meeting, saying the update aligns the district policy with recent state school-code changes and adds two required elements: a parental notification explaining that a habitually truant student may not transfer to a cyber charter school within the same school year unless a judge so orders, and a list of resources to support compulsory school attendance and academic recovery.

"There are 2 key points here... include language to inform the parent that if a student is habitually truant, that, they're not permitted to transfer to a cyber charter school within that school year unless a judge makes that determination," Dr. Harris said while reviewing the draft policy language.

Committee member P. Coates asked how the district would prevent a parent from simply enrolling a student in a cyber charter. Dr. Harris said records requests and coordination with legal counsel and support networks are tools the district is using: "that records request would be an opportunity for us to inform the cyber charter that they are habitually truant and that they wouldn't be able to accept them." When asked whether this is a new legal requirement, Dr. Harris replied the update stems from recent changes to the state school code.

P. Coates also raised concerns about enforceability, saying the restriction "is gonna be very hard to enforce." Dr. Harris acknowledged enforcement challenges and said the district will continue to monitor the issue and work with available resources.

The policy draft also includes housekeeping updates such as adjusted age ranges and removal of outdated administrative regulations that are now covered by the policy language. Policy 204 remains on the first-reading docket and will be returned for further review at a later meeting.