"Playing Hooky" Could No Longer Be A Crime In Texas
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AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM/AP) — "Playing hooky" from school would no longer be a criminal offense under a new bill that cleared both chambers of the Texas Legislature Saturday.
Instead, accumulating unexcused absences would mean only civil punishments, with fines starting at $100. The measure now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott.
Rep. James White, a former teacher, said the Texas Education Agency will come up with better ways and minimum standards to "assist our school districts in enhancing school attendance."
In fiscal year 2014, nearly 100,000 Texas students received misdemeanors for too many unexcused absences.
At the start of the legislative session, Texas Supreme Court Chief Justice Nathan Hecht asked lawmakers to change the truancy law. He said that Texas has "a real problem with keeping kids in school."
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