Assemblyman Brian Maher (R,C-Walden) expressed his support for bipartisan legislation (A.11345) that would establish a task force to study and make recommendations on chronic absenteeism in public schools.

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% of school days, typically 18, in one school year. Research has shown that students with high rates of absenteeism are at the greatest risk of falling behind and dropping out of school.

As the former ranking Minority Conference member of the Assembly Children and Families Committee, Assemblyman Maher has consistently advocated for policies that strengthen family stability and improve outcomes for vulnerable children. The proposed task force would examine the root causes of chronic absenteeism, including housing instability, transportation barriers, mental health challenges, foster care placement and gaps in child care access, while also evaluating how current policies may unintentionally contribute to family hardship.

“Assemblyman Maher understands that chronic absenteeism is often a symptom of deeper challenges facing children and families, not simply a disciplinary issue,” said Meghan Hurlburt, Assemblyman Maher’s chief of staff. “As former Minority ranker of the Children and Families Committee, he has seen firsthand how instability at home, homelessness, transportation issues and gaps in support services can directly impact a child’s ability to consistently attend school. This legislation takes a thoughtful and data-driven approach by bringing stakeholders together to identify the real causes of absenteeism and develop solutions that support students while keeping families together.”

Assemblyman Hevesi welcomed Assemblyman Maher’s bipartisan support.“New York has failed to address the root causes of absenteeism, while also amplifying harm through excessive punishments,” said Assemblyman Hevesi. “Bill A.11345, which would create the Task Force on Chronic Absenteeism, would finally generate meaningful solutions to this problem. This task force will fill a vital need by identifying solvable core issues that lead to chronic absenteeism, recommending truly impactful solutions and helping to finally make a stable educational experience attainable for vulnerable children, including those in foster care or experiencing homelessness.”

The legislation would establish a statewide task force composed of education professionals, child welfare advocates, mental health experts and other stakeholders tasked with studying chronic absenteeism trends and recommending policies aimed at improving attendance and student well-being across New York schools.