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The simple response: It's complicated. But let's not stop there, because each of these students matters and deserves educational opportunity.

Some absences are not responsive to increasing enforcement or penalty because the barrier is not unwillingness to attend.

Our attendance systems are not always clearly designed to preserve learning continuity, school belonging, and educational connection during those absences.

We are at a critical point for New Mexico's attendance law and how it treats stude nts with severe medical conditions. UPDATE: Family training on How to Share Your Story will be happening Monday, 11/17/25 ! Link to RSVP and attend coming soon Event Calendar Lawmakers and leaders need to hear from affected New Mexico families like you! When is the next step toward change happening? November 19 - 21, 2025 in Santa Fe, at the Roundhouse ( exact date & time for Public Comment t

This is a personal viewpoint. Individuals and families should conduct their own research. New Mexico's attendance law is called the Attendance for Success Act. It is a chronic absenteeism policy, and replaced the previous truancy-based law when enacted in 2019. This modernization aligned New Mexico with current policy research and guidance. Find the full law and policy here: From New Mexico's Public Education Department (PED): https://web.ped.nm.gov/bureaus/safe-and-healthy-s

What does it take for a law in New Mexico to be changed? To start, it takes people to speak up and share their story about why change is needed! More information on how to share your story here —UPDATED BELOW 12/18/25– Why Inclusive Attendance Laws Matter Around the country, students with disabilities, including severe medical conditions, are missing school at higher rates than their peers. New Mexico's chronic absenteeism law is about getting to the root cause of individual