Skipping school? Tennessee moves to close the ‘Reset Button’ on truancy

Missing school doesn’t just hurt grades — it can change a student’s entire path. And in Tennessee, lawmakers say too many students have been able to slip through the cracks by bouncing between school systems and essentially starting over when it comes to attendance.

That’s what a new bill aims to fix.

The Tennessee General Assembly has approved House Bill 1823, sponsored by State Rep. Kevin Raper, R-Cleveland, which would require a student’s attendance record to follow them when they transfer between public school districts during the school year. Right now, students can transfer out and later re-enroll with a clean slate — a loophole that lawmakers say has made it difficult for schools to consistently enforce truancy policies.

“After the slate is cleared, [students] will come and transfer back to us and, once again, they start over again in truancy,” Raper said during discussion on the House floor.

That reset button could soon be gone — and for schools, parents, and students, the ripple effects could be significant.