(105 ILCS 5/26-20)
    (Section scheduled to be repealed on January 31, 2028)
    Sec. 26-20. Chronic Absence Task Force.
    (a) The Chronic Absence Task Force is created within the State Board of Education to study chronic absenteeism and to support the development of a State strategy to address the ongoing challenges presented by chronic absenteeism for students in early childhood education and care programs and students in grades kindergarten through 12.
    (b) The Task Force shall consist of the following members:
        (1) the State Superintendent of Education or the
    
State Superintendent's designee;
        (2) the Secretary of Early Childhood or the
    
Secretary's designee;
        (3) the following persons, each appointed by the
    
State Superintendent of Education:
            (A) one expert in children's disabilities,
        
impairments, and social-emotional issues;
            (B) one member who represents a nonprofit
        
organization that advocates for students in temporary living situations;
            (C) one member who represents school social
        
workers;
            (D) one member who represents a statewide
        
professional teachers' organization who is a currently employed teacher;
            (E) one member who represents a different
        
statewide professional teachers' organization who is a currently employed teacher;
            (F) one member who represents a professional
        
teachers' organization in a city having a population exceeding 500,000 who is a currently employed teacher;
            (G) one member who represents an association for
        
school administrators;
            (H) one member who represents an association for
        
school board members;
            (I) one member who represents an association for
        
school principals;
            (J) 3 members who represent an association for
        
regional superintendents of schools from different parts of the State;
            (K) one member who represents an association for
        
high school districts;
            (L) one member who represents an association for
        
large unit school districts;
            (M) one member who represents a school district
        
in a western suburb of the City of Chicago;
            (N) one member who represents a nonprofit
        
organization that advocates for children in foster care;
            (O) one member who represents an organization for
        
charter schools in this State; and
            (P) one member representing an early childhood
        
advocacy organization.
    (c) Task Force members shall serve without compensation.
    (d) The Task Force shall meet initially at the call of the State Superintendent of Education. The State Superintendent or the State Superintendent's designee shall serve as chairperson of the Task Force. For every meeting after the initial meeting, the Task Force shall meet at the call of the chairperson.
    (e) The State Board of Education shall provide administrative support to the Task Force.
    (f) The Task Force may allow testimony from the public regarding the chronic absence of students.
    (g) The Task Force shall identify strategies, mechanisms, and approaches to help families, educators, principals, superintendents, and the State Board of Education address and mitigate the high rates of chronic absence of students in State-funded early-childhood programs and public-school students in grades kindergarten through 12 and shall recommend the following to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education:
        (1) a coherent State strategy for addressing the high
    
rates of chronic absenteeism in this State;
        (2) State goals for a reduction in chronic
    
absenteeism;
        (3) changes related to State Board of Education
    
policies regarding chronic absences, truancy, and attendance that are consistent with federal law and the State Board of Education's approved plan under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;
        (4) State policies or initiatives to be established
    
in order to mitigate and prevent chronic absenteeism; and
        (5) evidence-based practices for using attendance and
    
chronic absenteeism data to create a multitiered system of support that promotes ongoing professional development and equips school-based and community-based personnel with the skills and knowledge necessary to reduce contributing factors to chronic absenteeism in State-funded early-childhood programs and public elementary and secondary schools, which will result in students being ready for college and a career.
    (h) The Task Force shall submit a report to the General Assembly and the State Board of Education no later than December 15, 2027.
    (i) The Task Force is dissolved and this Section is repealed on January 31, 2028.
(Source: P.A. 104-355, eff. 9-1-25.)