Education matters.

Added a new definition for 'chronically absent' as missing 10% or more of a school year for any reason.

Changed the department's requirements from creating a list of best practices to establishing a mandatory categorization framework to distinguish between excused and unexcused absences based on the reason for absence.

Added a requirement for the department to annually collect and report disaggregated absence data from school corporations and charter schools by race, gender, grade, ethnicity, language proficiency, lunch status, and special education eligibility.

Modified the attendance conference requirement to occur not later than 10 instructional days after the fifth absence instead of five instructional days.

Removed the requirement for the department to create a list of best practices for student discipline and reduce chronic absenteeism, replacing it with more specific mandates.

Removed the requirement for the department to study excused versus unexcused absences and submit recommendations, replacing it with a mandatory categorization framework and data collection requirement.

Removed the Indiana Next Generation High School Success Grant Program and Fund chapter (Section 4 of the original bill), which is no longer included in this version.

Added provisions allowing prosecuting attorneys to conduct meetings and collaborate with families to secure support services before filing affidavits for compulsory school attendance violations.

Added a prohibition on public schools expelling or suspending students solely because they are chronically absent or habitual truants.