2019 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 22 - Public Schools
Article 12A - Attendance for Success
Section 22-12A-11 - Progressive interventions for absent, chronically absent and excessively absent students.

A. A public school shall provide interventions for students who are missing school, depending on the number of absences. The process for notification and interventions is:

(1) for a student who has been identified as in need of individualized prevention, the attendance team shall:

(a) for an elementary student, talk to the parent and inform the parent of the student's attendance history, the impact of student absences on student academic outcomes, the interventions or services available to the student or family and the consequences of further absences, which may include referral to the children, youth and families department for excessive absenteeism; and

(b) for a middle or high school student, talk to the parent and the student about the student's attendance history and the impact of student absences on student academic outcomes, interventions or services available to the student or family and the consequences of further absences, which may include referral to the children, youth and families department for excessive absenteeism;

(2) for a student who has been identified as in need of early intervention, the attendance team shall notify the parent in writing by mail or personal service on the parent of the student's absenteeism. The notice shall include a date, time and place for the parent to meet with the public school to develop intervention strategies that focus on keeping the student in an educational setting. The attendance team shall be convened to establish a specific intervention plan for the student that includes establishing weekly progress monitoring and a contract for attendance; and

(3) for a student who has been identified as in need of intensive support, the attendance team shall:

(a) give written notice to the parent, including a date, time and place for the parent to meet with the school principal and the attendance team;

(b) establish nonpunitive consequences at the school level;

(c) identify appropriate specialized supports that may be needed to help the student address the underlying causes of excessive absenteeism; and

(d) apprise the student and the parent of the consequences of further absences.

B. The school principal shall consult with a student's teacher and initiate meetings with the teacher, the student and the parent if the alleged cause of absence from class is teacher-student incompatibility.

History: 2019, ch. 223, § 11.

Effective dates. — Laws 2019, ch. 223 contained no effective date provision, but, pursuant to N.M. Const., art. IV, § 23, was effective June 14, 2019, 90 days after the adjournment of the legislature.