BEDFORD – As the 2025-2026 school year commences this week, North Lawrence Community Schools (NLCS) is informing families about significant updates to Indiana’s student attendance law, Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 482, which became effective on July 1, 2025. This new legislation changes how schools must monitor, report, and respond to student absences statewide.
NLCS emphasizes its commitment to partnering with families to ensure students remain connected, supported, and successful under the updated guidelines.
Key Changes and Definitions:
Under SEA 482, a student is now considered
Chronically absent if they miss 10% or more of the school year for any reason, regardless of whether the absence is excused or unexcused. For most students, this equates to approximately 18 or more days of missed school. Importantly, being chronically absent does not automatically mean a student is truant or that child services will be contacted. Instead, it serves as an opportunity for the school to collaborate with the family to provide academic or emotional support.
Habitual truancy, defined as 10 or more unexcused absences, continues to require schools to report to Child Services or the court system, a part of the law that remains unchanged.
Types of Absences and Reporting:
The new law categorizes absences as:
- Excused Absences: These absences, such as illness or injury (with a physician’s note), medical appointments (with documentation), bereavement/funerals, religious observances, college visits, other school-approved events, absences due to chronic illness (with physician’s documentation), or being sent home from school by NLCS policy, count toward the chronic absence total.
- Unexcused Absences: Any absence not reported or not approved by the school office will be recorded as unexcused, and these also count toward the chronic absence total. Families are responsible for notifying the school each time a student is absent.
- Exempt Absences: Certain absences, including jury duty, military service, legislative page service, election service, court proceedings for foster care, and approved 4-H, FFA, or State Fair participation, do not count toward the chronic absence total.
NLCS also allows up to
5 parent-excused absences per semester for reasons like personal or family events or student illness without a physician’s statement. These still count toward the student’s total absences and require advance notification to the school office with a reason for the absence.
For long-term medical absences (20 or more instructional days), a note from a licensed medical provider is required, and NLCS will coordinate homebound or alternative instruction. Parents/guardians are responsible for reporting all absences directly to the school office via email or phone by 9:00 a.m. each day.
Support Steps for Attendance Concerns:
Following SEA 482, NLCS will implement a series of steps to support student attendance after five excused or unexcused absences:
- Attendance Conference: A conference will be held within 10 instructional days to assess student needs and discuss barriers to attendance.
- Attendance Contract: Families may be asked to work with school staff to create a personalized plan to improve attendance.
- Referral to Lawrence County SARB (Student Attendance Review Board): This team of school and community members will connect families to services and may recommend next steps, including legal action if necessary.
Students may not be suspended or expelled solely for chronic absenteeism, but repeated unexcused absences without parental communication may result in legal reporting requirements. The primary goal of these measures is to provide support for NLCS students and families.
For any questions or clarification regarding attendance procedures, families are encouraged to contact their school’s main office directly. NLCS emphasizes that every day in class matters for student success.
