A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to ENCOURAGE LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT STUDENT ATTENDANCE RECOGNITION PROGRAMS AND TO PROVIDE THAT STUDENTS serving as legislative or governor's pages SHALL BE ELIGIBLE FOR PARTICIPATION IN THESE PROGRAMS.
Whereas, student attendance is critical for student achievement; and
Whereas, student attendance benefits from institutional encouragement and recognition; and
Whereas, research indicates that there is a connection between student attendance and rates of graduation; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Part 1 of Article 26 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 115C‑382.5.  Student attendance recognition programs.
Local boards of education are encouraged to adopt a student attendance recognition program within the local school administrative unit to promote student attendance in school and participation in class as an integral part of academic achievement and the learning process. If the local board of education adopts a student attendance recognition program, a student with an absence resulting from service as a legislative page or a governor's page shall be eligible for participation in the program, and the student's absence shall not be included as part of the student's record of attendance for the purposes of the program."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law and applies beginning with the 2017‑2018 school year.