HB 3204 requires the Oregon Department of Education to collect, on a quarterly basis, attendance data from each school district and public charter school about students who are regular attenders and students who are chronically absent. The bill defines “chronically absent” as missing 10 percent or more of enrolled school days, and “regular attender” as missing less than 10 percent. It also specifies that “absent” includes excused absences, unexcused absences, and disciplinary exclusions.
The Department of Education must set timelines and reporting requirements for districts and charter schools, and those requirements must include disaggregated student-group data aligned as closely as practicable with existing student-group reporting under ORS 327.235. The required reporting includes total average daily membership, the number and percentage of regular attenders, and the number and percentage of chronically absent students. The department must then compile the data each quarter and publish it on its website in an easy-to-use format, making the information publicly accessible.
Impact
The bill would add a new section to ORS chapter 329 and create a statewide attendance-data reporting framework for public school districts and public charter schools. It expands state education reporting obligations by requiring quarterly submission, compilation, and public posting of attendance metrics, including disaggregated student-group data. The practical effect is to increase transparency around chronic absenteeism and regular attendance, while imposing new administrative duties on schools and the Department of Education.
Sentiment
No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be framed as a data-transparency and student-attendance monitoring bill, which typically draws support from policymakers focused on identifying attendance problems and improving student outcomes. The available record does not show any formal sentiment from hearings or floor action.
Contention
Because there are no transcripts or votes in the provided context, no specific points of contention are documented. Potential areas of concern inherent in the bill include the administrative burden on school districts and charter schools, the frequency of quarterly reporting, and the handling of disaggregated student-group data. Another possible issue is whether public posting of attendance data could raise privacy, interpretation, or resource concerns, but those objections are not reflected in the supplied legislative history.