Committee member proposes narrow amendment to truancy bill to tighten homeschool notifications

A committee member proposed a late amendment to H.930, the absenteeism (truancy) bill, asking that the Agency of Education provide notice of a home‑study enrollment application to the student’s resident superintendent and that the superintendent and the Department for Children and Families be notified if there are documented and unresolved concerns related to child welfare, educational neglect or truancy.

The amendment — described by the committee member as narrow — would insert notice requirements into section 7(a)(1) of the bill’s enrollment provisions. "This amendment would just ask that the ... the secretary or designee shall provide notice of the enrollment application to the superintendent of the student's resident school district," the committee member said, explaining that the change is meant "to make sure that we're protecting kids to the greatest extent that we can." (Committee member)

Why it matters: the change is intended to create an interagency alert so that local school leaders and child‑welfare professionals are aware when a student leaves public school for home study and there is existing evidence of welfare or attendance concerns.

Clarifying questions: Committee members and counsel pressed the sponsor on two operational points: whether the notice would apply only during the school year and how the Department for Children and Families would be alerted. Legislative counsel explained existing home‑study process under Title 16, §166b: a parent or guardian must give the Agency of Education notice of intent to enroll in a home‑study program at least 10 business days before starting and must use an agency form that includes required information for each child not previously enrolled in public school.

"For each child not previously enrolled in a public school ... a parent or legal guardian sends the secretary of education notice of intent to enroll the child in the home study program at least 10 business days prior to starting," legislative counsel said, noting the agency form collects details such as information about disability and scope for notification. (Legislative Counsel)

Committee response: Members signaled broad support for the amendment’s concept but urged precise drafting. One member recommended replacing the phrase "unresolved concerns" with language that would ensure superintendents check whether there are "ongoing investigations or findings" by DCF. The amendment sponsor offered to work with legislative counsel before the bill’s next reading to refine the wording.

Next step: Committee members asked legislative counsel to refine the text between now and third reading so that the notice flow and permissible information sharing are consistent with existing law. No formal vote on this amendment was recorded during the segment covered by the transcript.