SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois House passed a bill Wednesday to create a task force looking into how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted chronic absence of students.
This group could identify strategies, mechanisms, and approaches to help families, teachers, principals, and superintendents address chronic absence for K-12 students.
The state's previous attendance commission's work ended in December 2020. Although, lawmakers intended to bring a task force back to better understand the ongoing impact of the pandemic.
"Since then, chronic absenteeism has remained at historically high levels particularly amongst early learners, students from low-income households, students with disabilities, multi-lingual learners, and those experiencing homelessness," said Rep. Michael Crawford (D-Chicago).
Senate Bill 407 passed unanimously out of the House and will head back to the Senate on concurrence due to an amendment. The measure previously gained unanimous support in the Senate.Â
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