Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §5051, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1999, c. 198, §§1 and 2, is further amended to read:

2. Procedures. The following provisions govern the procedure to be followed when a student is habitually truant.

A. If a principal of a public school and the attendance coordinator determines determine that a student is habitually truant, the principal shall inform the superintendent. The superintendent shall first try to correct the problem informally.

A-1. As part of the informal measures set out in paragraph A, the superintendent may ask the student's parents to attend a series of meetings with their child's teacher or other school personnel designated by the superintendent. The purpose of the meetings is to describe the education program to the parents and explain the value of their child attending an educational program, including, but not limited to, school, adult education, a high school equivalency degree program and other alternative education programs. The superintendent shall arrange meeting times convenient to the parents.

B. If the principal and the attendance coordinator are unable to correct the problem, the superintendent principal shall refer the matter to the school board superintendent along with the attendance coordinator's report, the principal's report and any other useful information.

C. The school board superintendent shall call a hearing and shall notify the student's parent of the following in writing at least 7 days in advance:

(1) The date and time of the hearing;

(2) The purpose of the hearing;

(3) The parent's right to inspect the student's attendance records, attendance coordinator's report and principal's reports; and

(4) The necessity of the parent's and student's presence at the hearing.

D. If the school board superintendent determines that the student is habitually truant, it the superintendent shall either: