E101 From Absences to Action: Attendance, Truancy, and Special Education Obligations

In this episode, host Sloan Simmons is joined by Lozano Smith attorneys Sarah Garcia and Karina Demirchyan to discuss why student attendance has become a critical issue for local educational agencies and how attendance concerns can evolve into legal and special education obligations. Drawing on recent legislative updates and real-world experience, the conversation highlights funding considerations, attendance terminology, notification requirements, and when chronic absenteeism may trigger child find duties and further intervention.

Show Notes & References

1:21 – Why attendance is a critical issue for Local Educational Agencies (LEAs)

1:57 – School funding and average daily membership (Senate Bill (SB) 98)

2:05 – Optional attendance recovery program (SB 153)

2:19 – New excused absences (SB 1138) (See Client News Brief 45 – October 2024)

2:51 – Truancy (AB 461) (See Client News Brief 58 – December 2025)

3:09 – Lozano Smith Podcast Episode 99: New Laws Impacting Students Heading into 2026

3:49 – Heightened attention on attendance from California Department of Education (CDE) and supporting data

6:18 – Correlation between attendance and discipline

7:51 – Legal requirements for LEAs regarding attendance

9:16 – Terminology (chronic absenteeism, truancy, habitual truancy, and chronic truancy)