Last year, more than 27% of Mississippi students, approximately 100,000 students, missed more than 10% of the school year. Schools are creating Attendance Teams made up of teachers, School Attendance Officers, and staff to monitor attendance every day. This year, the Legislature increased the salaries of School Attendance Officers and added additional positions. Senate Bill 2001 places enforcement of Mississippi’s existing Compulsory School Attendance Law with these new chancellors and the youth courts. Regular school attendance is one of the strongest predictors of a child’s future.