Purpose

Establish a state Interagency Council on Student Attendance to improve coordination among state agencies, counties, school districts, and charter schools with the goal of improving student attendance and reducing chronic absenteeism.

Key provisions

• The Interagency Council on Student Attendance is created and must work to improve coordination among state agencies, counties, school districts, and charter schools to boost student attendance.
• The council must follow the requirements in the state’s open meeting rules and meet at least quarterly.
• The Department of Children Youth and Families must provide meeting space and administrative support for the council when requested.

Membership

• The governor appoints council members, and the council elects its chair.
• Members must include representatives from:
  • Department of Education
  • Department of Children Youth and Families
  • Department of Public Safety
  • Department of Human Services
  • Department of Transportation
  • Department of Health
  • Department of Human Rights
  • Department of Corrections
  • Office of Higher Education
  • Tribal Nations Education Committee
  • Minnesota Youth Council
  • Association of Minnesota Counties (two members: one from the sevencounty metropolitan area and one from outside the metropolitan area)
  • Minnesota County Attorneys Association (two members: one from the sevencounty metropolitan area and one from outside the metropolitan area)
  • Minnesota School Boards Association
  • Association of Metropolitan School Districts
  • Minnesota Rural Education Association
• The council includes a broad mix of state agencies, tribal and youth representation, and education and local government associations to address attendance issues from many angles.

Duties and reporting

• The council must develop solutions to address the causes of chronic absenteeism and make recommendations for policy and funding changes to improve student attendance.
• By November 1, 2027, and each year thereafter, the council must prepare and submit a report to the governor and the chairs and ranking minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over K–12 education. The report must include recommendations to improve coordination among agencies, counties, school districts, and charter schools to boost student attendance.

Expiration

• The Interagency Council on Student Attendance does not expire.

Significance and anticipated changes

• Creates a formal, permanent cross-agency body focused specifically on improving student attendance.
• Establishes a recurring annual reporting requirement to inform the governor and legislature and to guide policy and funding decisions.
• Requires ongoing collaboration across multiple state agencies, local governments, and education partners, potentially leading to coordinated strategies and shared funding approaches to reduce chronic absenteeism.

Relevant Terms

• Interagency Council on Student Attendance
• chronic absenteeism
• coordination among agencies, counties, school districts, charter schools
• K–12 education
• report to governor and legislative chairs and ranking minority members
• policy and funding changes
• Department of Education
• Department of Children Youth and Families
• Department of Public Safety
• Department of Human Services
• Department of Transportation
• Department of Health
• Department of Human Rights
• Department of Corrections
• Office of Higher Education
• Tribal Nations Education Committee
• Minnesota Youth Council
• Association of Minnesota Counties
• Minnesota County Attorneys Association
• Minnesota School Boards Association
• Association of Metropolitan School Districts
• Minnesota Rural Education Association
• open meeting requirements (chapter 13D)
• Nov. 1, 2027 reporting milestone