New Mexico wants to reduce school funding if students have more than 10 absences (whatever the reason) even though the “Pandemic Missing: Hundreds of Thousands of Students Didn’t Go Back to School” is the reason for continued absences.

Legislators are also set to consider a bill aimed at improving attendance in New Mexico’s schools. Senate Bill 367, sponsored by Sen. Harold Pope (D-Abq.), would try to boost attendance using several methods. The bill would reduce a school’s funding if students receive 10 or more consecutive unexcused absences after they’ve been provided all appropriate interventions. This may essentially act as an incentive for schools to address the most serious forms of chronic absenteeism. NM wants to blame schools for absences: https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/legislature/roundhouse-roundup-environmental-rights-school-attendance/ The Pandemic Missing: Hundreds of Thousands of Students Didn’t Go Back to School: https://www.edweek.org/leadership/the-pandemic-missing-hundreds-of-thousands-of-students-didnt-go-back-to-school/2023/02 Legislators: “Let’s think up a really contemptible way to steal money from already struggling schools.”