Sec. 43. (a) The secretary of education shall appoint a state attendance officer. The state attendance officer serves at the pleasure of the secretary of education and may be removed by the secretary of education at any time.

     (b) The state attendance officer shall:

(1) exercise general supervision over the attendance officers of Indiana;

(2) visit the various attendance districts throughout Indiana;

(3) inspect the work of the attendance officers; and

(4) investigate the manner in which this chapter is being enforced.

     (c) The state attendance officer may initiate court action whenever necessary for the enforcement of this chapter.

     (d) The state attendance officer shall meet at least one (1) time each year with all attendance officers to:

(1) review data, policies, and procedures; and

(2) discuss recommending to the legislative council legislation to deter absenteeism and to promote school attendance.

     (e) Not later than November 1 of each year, the state attendance officer shall submit a report to the legislative council containing recommended legislation based on the state attendance officer’s discussions with attendance officers under subsection (d) and section 39 of this chapter. A report required by this subsection must be submitted in an electronic format under IC 5-14-6.

[Pre-2005 Elementary and Secondary Education Recodification Citation: 20-8.1-3-16.]

As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.17. Amended by P.L.43-2021, SEC.111; P.L.125-2024, SEC.5.