State board approves new absence reporting policy, superintendent flags homeschool push
At the Aug. 21 meeting, the board approved the policy, which implements a 2026 legislative change addressing chronic absenteeism. The new rule requires schools to make contact with families after three, five and eight unexcused absences.
State Superintendent Lance Evans told the board the stepped-up enforcement could carry unintended consequences. "I do want to make sure we also understand though that there may be a push back as we move forward that we may have some parents who choose to go homeschool because they're not going to deal with," Evans said, according to a meeting recording. Evans indicated the increased contact with families, including home visits and letters tied to absence thresholds, could prompt some parents to leave the public system altogether.
The revised policy stems from a 2026 legislative change on chronic absenteeism backed by the lieutenant governor's office. Evans' remarks amounted to a public acknowledgment of tradeoffs built into the new mandate — that tighter enforcement aimed at keeping students in class could instead push some families toward homeschooling.
It was not immediately clear whether data exists yet showing any shift in homeschool enrollment tied to the new attendance rules.