A new state law expands school absence rules to students in grades seven through 12.

House Bill 1201 bars schools from suspending or expelling students for being chronically absent or habitually truant.

A new dashboard will include local data on excused and unexcused absences broken down by grade and demographic information, like race and family income.

When students miss lots of school without an excuse, it’s known as truancy — and in Indiana, it can lead to a visit from a truancy investigator.

A slate of education bills passed out of the Senate Tuesday after debate and endorsement from lawmakers. Those proposals will now move to the House for further deliberation.

Lawmakers agree it's important for kids to be in school. But they have different ideas on how to address chronic absenteeism during the upcoming legislative session.