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Smyrna Today
By the People, for the People
Georgia Lawmakers Propose Punishments for Student Absenteeism
New legislation would bar students with too many unexcused absences from playing sports and could result in loss of driver's license
Published on Feb. 27, 2026
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The Georgia state Senate has passed a bill that would impose new punishments on students with chronic absenteeism, including barring them from participating in sports and potentially suspending their driver's licenses. The legislation is aimed at addressing rising rates of student absences in recent years.
Why it matters
Student absenteeism has become a growing concern in Georgia, with over 20% of students missing more than 15 days of school in 2024, nearly double the rate from 2019. Lawmakers hope these new punishments will incentivize students to attend school more regularly and improve educational outcomes.
The details
The bill, known as Senate Bill 513, would require schools to first identify students at risk of chronic absenteeism and develop attendance intervention plans with the student and their parents. If a student does not comply with the plan, they could face sanctions such as being barred from extracurricular activities like sports, as well as having their driver's license suspended. The punishments are intended to be a last resort, with the focus on getting students to attend school more consistently through the intervention plans.
- In 2024, over 20% of students missed more than 15 days of school, nearly double the rate from 2019.
- The state Senate passed the legislation on February 27, 2026.
- The bill now heads to the state House for consideration.
The players
Sen. Jason Dickerson
The Republican state senator from Canton who carried the bill to address chronic absenteeism in Georgia public schools.
Sen. RaShaun Kemp
A Democratic state senator from Atlanta who previously served as a high school principal and now sits on the board of an Atlanta charter school.
Sen. Jaha Howard
A Democratic state senator from Smyrna who previously served on the Cobb County school board and expressed concerns about the bill's potential burdens on teachers.
What they’re saying
“These are privileges, and this bill reinforces the connection between responsibility and opportunity.”
— Sen. Jason Dickerson (Capitol Beat News Service)
“If we do not have kids' butts in seats, they are not going to learn.”
— Sen. RaShaun Kemp (Capitol Beat News Service)
“The idea was 'wonderful,' but he also thought it burdensome for teachers, since the state would not help fund the mandates.”
— Sen. Jaha Howard (Capitol Beat News Service)
What’s next
The bill now heads to the Georgia state House for consideration after passing the state Senate.
The takeaway
This legislation represents a concerted effort by Georgia lawmakers to address the growing problem of student absenteeism, which has been exacerbated in recent years. While the punishments are intended as a last resort, the focus on intervention plans and connecting attendance to extracurricular activities and driving privileges aims to incentivize students to attend school more regularly and improve educational outcomes across the state.
