Bill Text: NJ AJR72 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates September of each year as "School Absentee Awareness Month."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-02-08 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [AJR72 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-AJR72-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Designates September of each year as "School Absentee Awareness Month."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Joint Resolution designating September of each year as "School Absentee Awareness Month."
Whereas, Chronic school absenteeism is a complex, under‐recognized problem that limits academic achievement and contributes to higher school dropout and juvenile crime rates; and
Whereas, Children who face systemic barriers in getting to school, including unreliable transportation, unstable housing, and lack of access to health care, are at greater risk of chronic absenteeism; and
Whereas, Improving school climate, limiting the use of discipline policies that result in the additional loss of instruction time, and implementing positive behavior intervention and support systems within the schools can have a significant impact on improving attendance rates; and
Whereas, School attendance improves and chronic absenteeism is significantly reduced when schools, parents, and communities work together to monitor and promote good attendance and address hurdles that keep children from getting to school; and
Whereas, Schools and school districts must do more to track, calculate, and share data on how many and which pupils are chronically absent so that schools and communities can work to deliver the appropriate interventions to the right pupils; and
Whereas, Each school district and charter school in the State must take steps to improve student engagement and create stronger links between schools and community resources in order to combat chronic school absenteeism; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The month of September of each year shall be designated as "School Absentee Awareness Month" in order to promote awareness of the negative impact of chronic school absenteeism and promote strategies that improve student engagement and attendance.
2. The Governor is requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials, schools, and citizens of this State to observe "School Absentee Awareness Month" with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates September of each year as " School Absentee Awareness Month."
Chronic school absenteeism is a complex, under‐recognized problem that limits academic achievement and contributes to higher school dropout and juvenile crime rates. It is therefore necessary to promote awareness of the negative impact of chronic school absenteeism and promote strategies that improve student engagement and attendance. The designation of September as "School Absentee Awareness Month" will serve to advance this goal.
