Bill 236: The Public Schools Amendment Act (Chronic Absenteeism Reporting)

This bill primarily affects public school principals, school board administrators, and independent school operators across Manitoba rather than private-sector businesses. School administrators will need to track unexcused absences against defined thresholds — 20% or more of teaching days in any reporting period for K–8 students, or 20 or more unexcused absences in a Grade 9–12 math or English course — and compile written reports by August 1 each year. Independent school principals face the same August 1 reporting deadline directly to the Minister. The administrative burden falls on school-level and divisional staff who manage attendance records, and schools will also need to collect and report voluntary Indigenous self-declaration data from students.