Current Issue Status:
Action Alert
The interim legislative committee dedicated to education LESC will be considering endorsing legislation to amend the Attendance for Success Act at the November 19-21 meeting in Santa Fe.
Contact legislators to urge them to support the change!
Lawmakers need to hear from families affected by the attendance law.
Your Stories
Shared with permission; Some edited for length; *Paraphrased from conversation
K., Parent
My family has received multiple letters from our school warning of mounting absences and tardies, despite consistent communication with the school and doctor excuses. These letters have threatened CYFD referral if attendance continues to mount. The law itself details additional consequences such as community service, fines and jail time. This has directly affected my confidence and judgement in caring for my children and determining whether my sick children should stay home or attend school to potentially share their illness with medically compromised peers and adults. Allowances must be made for parents to make their own reasonable judgement calls. Considerations must be made for children who require regular medical care during school hours. Schools must be allowed to differentiate between chronic attendance issues based on refusal/carelessness/vacations and medically based excused absences. This is not acceptable.
*Anonymous, School
We had to send out over 200 letters warning of CYFD one month. That was just because of flu, and they're not allowed to come to school with a fever! We had to deal with so many calls from upset parents. But the ones we actually have concerns about, we don't hear from them and have less time to work on those cases.
*Anonymous , Parent
It would really help to not have to worry about getting a notification letter about attendance and tracking that down. We've given them all of the doctor's notes. Now we're busy dealing with insurance before those deadlines. It's really hard right now.
S. , Parent
Our child has multiple severe conditions that require care in Albuquerque or outside New Mexico. If kid gets a virus at school, it often means hospitalization and a long recovery. Worrying about CYFD on top of this is not OK! Please change this law so schools have more discretion to spend resources focusing on absences that can be reduced.
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November 2025
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Updates & Information
Who's Behind Inclusive Attendance NM and Why
This site was created by Sarah, a parent of a student with complex needs, as a way of reaching New Mexico families also experiencing challenges from the current attendance law.
The site is a compilation of events, issue updates, links to references, research, opinions, and ideas. The hope is to serve as a community catalyst to foster positive change for students with unique challenges and their families.
I welcome your feedback and thoughts.
Thank you for visiting!
INSIGHTS
Updates
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Engagement
We encourage families to participate in discussions and share their own stories to advance inclusive attendance policy in New Mexico.
Resources
Our site links to valuable external resources that help families navigate attendance policies effectively.