Puts in place consistent practices and procedures, beginning in kindergarten, in which schools share information with families about the importance of consistent attendance and the consequences of excessive absences, involves families early, and provides families with information, services, and tools that they may access to improve and maintain their children's school attendance.

Requires an initial stay of truancy petition in order to allow for appropriate intervention and prevention before using a court order to enforce attendance laws.

Encourages efforts by county juvenile courts and school districts to establish and maintain community truancy boards and employ other best practices.

Increases the number of beds in HOPE centers and crisis residential centers in order to facilitate their use for truant students.

Strengthens the juvenile court's ability to seek a chemical dependency or mental health assessment for a child subject to a truancy petition, if the court finds that such an assessment might help to reengage a child in school.

"AN ACT Relating to court-based and school-based intervention and prevention efforts to promote attendance and reduce truancy."