105 ILCS 5/26-2a
2021 Illinois Compiled Statutes|Chapter 105 - SCHOOLS|105 ILCS 5/ - School Code.|Article 26 - Pupils--Compulsory Attendance

 (from Ch. 122, par. 26-2a)(Text of Section from P.A. 102-266)Sec. 26-2a. A "truant" is defined as a child who is subject to compulsory school  attendance and who is absent without valid cause, as defined under this Section, from such attendance for more than 1% but less than 5% of the past 180 school days."Valid cause" for absence shall be illness, including the mental or behavioral health of the student, observance of a religious  holiday, death in the immediate family,  or family emergency and shall include such other situations beyond the control  of the student, as determined by the board of education in each district,  or such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent  for the mental, emotional, or physical health or safety of the student."Chronic or habitual truant" shall be defined as a child who is subject to compulsory  school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance  for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days."Truant minor" is defined as a chronic truant to whom supportive  services, including prevention, diagnostic, intervention and remedial  services, alternative programs and other school and community resources  have been provided and have failed to result in the cessation of chronic  truancy, or have been offered and refused.A "dropout" is defined as any child enrolled in grades 9 through 12 whose  name has been removed from the district enrollment roster for any reason  other than the student's death, extended illness, removal for medical non-compliance, expulsion, aging out, graduation, or completion of a  program of studies and who has not transferred to another public or private school and is not known to be home-schooled by his or her parents or guardians or continuing school in another country."Religion" for the purposes of this Article, includes all aspects of  religious observance and practice, as well as belief.(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-266, eff. 1-1-22.)(Text of Section from P.A. 102-321)Sec. 26-2a. A "truant" is defined as a child who is subject to compulsory school  attendance and who is absent without valid cause, as defined under this Section, from such attendance for more than 1% but less than 5% of the past 180 school days."Valid cause" for absence shall be illness, including the mental or behavioral health of the student, observance of a religious  holiday, death in the immediate family,  or family emergency and shall include such other situations beyond the control  of the student, as determined by the board of education in each district,  or such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent  for the mental, emotional, or physical health or safety of the student."Chronic or habitual truant" shall be defined as a child who is subject to compulsory  school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance  for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days."Truant minor" is defined as a chronic truant to whom supportive  services, including prevention, diagnostic, intervention and remedial  services, alternative programs and other school and community resources  have been provided and have failed to result in the cessation of chronic  truancy, or have been offered and refused.A "dropout" is defined as any child enrolled in grades 9 through 12 whose  name has been removed from the district enrollment roster for any reason  other than the student's death, extended illness, removal for medical non-compliance, expulsion, aging out, graduation, or completion of a  program of studies and who has not transferred to another public or private school and is not known to be home-schooled by his or her parents or guardians or continuing school in another country."Religion" for the purposes of this Article, includes all aspects of  religious observance and practice, as well as belief.(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-321, eff. 1-1-22.)(Text of Section from P.A. 102-466)Sec. 26-2a. A "truant" is defined as a child who is subject to compulsory school  attendance and who is absent without valid cause, as defined under this Section, from such attendance for more than 1% but less than 5% of the past 180 school days."Valid cause" for absence shall be illness, attendance at a verified medical or therapeutic appointment, appointment with a victim services provider, observance of a religious  holiday, death in the immediate family,  or family emergency and shall include such other situations beyond the control  of the student as determined by the board of education in each district  or such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent  for the mental, emotional, or physical health or safety of the student. For purposes of a student who is an expectant parent, or parent, or victim of domestic or sexual violence, "valid cause" for absence includes (i) the fulfillment of a parenting responsibility, including, but not limited to, arranging and providing child care, caring for a sick child, attending prenatal or other medical appointments for the expectant student, and attending medical appointments for a child, and (ii) addressing circumstances resulting from domestic or sexual violence, including, but not limited to, experiencing domestic or sexual violence, recovering from physical or psychological injuries, seeking medical attention, seeking services from a domestic or sexual violence organization, as defined in Article 26A, seeking psychological or other counseling, participating in safety planning, temporarily or permanently relocating, seeking legal assistance or remedies, or taking any other action to increase the safety or health of the student or to protect the student from future domestic or sexual violence. A school district may require a student to verify his or her claim of domestic or sexual violence under Section 26A-45 prior to the district approving a valid cause for an absence of 3 or more consecutive days that is related to domestic or sexual violence."Chronic or habitual truant" shall be defined as a child who is subject to compulsory  school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance  for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days."Truant minor" is defined as a chronic truant to whom supportive  services, including prevention, diagnostic, intervention and remedial  services, alternative programs and other school and community resources  have been provided and have failed to result in the cessation of chronic  truancy, or have been offered and refused.A "dropout" is defined as any child enrolled in grades 9 through 12 whose  name has been removed from the district enrollment roster for any reason  other than the student's death, extended illness, removal for medical non-compliance, expulsion, aging out, graduation, or completion of a  program of studies and who has not transferred to another public or private school and is not known to be home-schooled by his or her parents or guardians or continuing school in another country."Religion" for the purposes of this Article, includes all aspects of  religious observance and practice, as well as belief.(Source: P.A. 101-81, eff. 7-12-19; 102-466, eff. 7-1-25.)