administrator vs. truancy...

4/21/2015

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TRUANCY INTERVENTIONAdministrator vs. Truancy Officer

Jackie Laymac Sally WashingtonEducational Consultant Educational Consultant

Laymac & Associates Washington Works

[email protected] [email protected]

In-School Intervention

ElementaryCounselor (if possible)

Unexcused Absence Definition

Intervene at 3 Unexcused Absences

Parent Intervention

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ElementaryTruancy Officer Meeting

Pre-Court Meeting with Assistant Prosecutor/Student/Parent

Documentation


Middle School

Critical AgeSocial Worker/School PsychologistSaturday SchoolLunch StudyHomework Support

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Middle SchoolRemoval of special class for

academic supportParent Intervention

Truancy Officer Meeting


Documentation


High SchoolCounselor/School Psychologist

Regular (every 2 weeks) Parent Intervention/Meeting/Class

Saturday School

In-School Suspension

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High School (Continued)Academic Support

Truancy Officer Meeting


Documentation

Truancy Officer Intervention

County-Wide Truancy Committee

*Prosecutor’s Office

*Juvenile Probation Director/Officers

*Court

*School Personnel: Principals, Counselors, Secretaries

County-Wide Truancy Guidelines

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Focus on Students at a Younger Age: Elementary/Middle School

School Meeting with Student/Parent/Principal/Teachers

Attendance Contracts

Collect Parent Information

Incentives and Rewards For Students


Parental Intervention/Classes

Follow-Up Visits to School

Ongoing Communication with Schools

Referral to Juvenile Court

Cooperation from Courts & Schools

Updates to Court

Quick Response for Repeat Offenders in Subsequent Years

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Legal Intervention

Probation

Juvenile Detention Facilities

Trip to Jail

Foster Care

Work/Community Service

Psychological Evaluation and Follow-Up Care

Compulsory Education to Age 18

School Funding

Access to Court System

Limited Jail Space

Discipline/Security in High Schools

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What’s New/Compulsory 18

Except as otherwise provided in this section, for a child who turns age 11 on or after December 1, 2009 or a child who was age 11 before that date and enters grade 6 in 2009 or later, the child's parent, guardian, or other person in this state having control and charge of the child shall send the child to a public school during the entire school year from the age of 6 to the child's eighteenth birthday.

Sally’s Paraphrasing

Requirement of attending school until age 18:

Child turns 11 on or after December 1, 2009 – DOB 12-1-98 or after

OR

Child who was 11 prior to Dec 1, 2009 (DOB prior to 12-1-98) BUT entered 6th grade in 2009 or later

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What’s New/Compulsory 18

Court Room Consistency

Interpretations of the Law

Implications for Schools

Implications for Community/Courts

Consent to Withdraw Form

Resource Review

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Referral Guidelines

Referral Form

Sample Letters

Record of Parent Meeting

Parent Information Form

Consent to Withdraw Form

Revised Compulsory Attendance Law

Flowchart

Meeting with Parent

Discuss problems and develop action plan. Phone call is acceptable. Either must be documented.

Investigation finds justified absences = no further action. Copy of report to district. OR

Investigation finds problems = continued monitoring & meeting at the school with all parties. Attendance contract signed.

Exhausted all Efforts

Court Referral

Failure of response or cooperation from parent results in ISD referral

TRUANCY FLOWCHART BAY-ARENAC ISD

Failure of

response or cooperation from parent results in court

referral

DISTRICT ACTION

Follow District Attendance Policy

Documented District Action

Review attendance history & grades. Contact parent/ guardian and student. Initial contact MUST come from local district.

Utilize Resources School psychologist, counselor, etc.

Exhausted all Efforts and/or failure of response or cooperation from parent results in referral to Bay-Arenac ISD. Submit weekly attendance updates.

ISD ACTION

Truancy letter to parent/guardian.

Contact with parent/ guardian

Continued absences and/or tardies not meeting components of attendance contract …

COURT ACTION

After school district and ISD truancy officer have exhausted all resources OR after failure of response or cooperation from parent/guardian – Elementary age will be referred to the prosecutor – parent charged. Middle School & High School students referred for hearing with court. Student placed on consent calendar or probation.

Parents who are charged with truancy for elementary students can be jailed, fined, placed on probation or all three. Students who are placed on probation through the court will be monitored by truancy officer and probation officers.

Bay-Arenac ISD Truancy Services Referral Guidelines

Michigan Department of Education recommends that absences exceeding 10% of the scheduled days of instruction be considered as truancy. Their belief regarding this determination is that it becomes difficult to achieve success if a student is missing more than 10% of the days school is in session. The following should be considered guidelines for local districts in making truancy referrals to the BAISD Truancy Services Program:

Truancy referrals may be made once a student accumulates 9 absences during a semester or 6 absences during a trimester. These absences may be excused or unexcused. Only unexcused absences will be considered by the court.

For students who are repeat offenders from the previous year, they may be referred again once they accumulate only 3 absences in a semester.

For students who are habitually tardy, referrals may be made under the same guidelines. Once a student accumulates more than 9 tardies during a semester or 6 during a trimester, a referral may be made.

Once a referral has been made, a letter will be sent to the parent/guardian with a date/time for a meeting at the school.

During the parent meeting, an agreement will be signed by the parent/guardian, school official and truancy officer.

School personnel will notify the truancy officer of continued absences without proper documentation.

Bay-Arenac ISD Truancy Services Referral Guidelines (page 2)

For elementary students, if the problem cannot be corrected after working with BAISD Truancy Services, a petition will be filed and parents will be prosecuted. Parents may incur fines and court costs, jail time and/or probation.

For middle school and high school students, if the problem cannot be corrected after working with BAISD Truancy Services, a petition will be filed with the prosecutor’s office. Parents may incur fines and court costs. Students may incur a juvenile record and probation.

The compulsory school attendance law has changed. For students whose date of birth is 12-1-98 or later, they must attend school from age 6 – 18.

As in the past, each local district should use their discretion in determining when students are referred.

To expedite the truancy process, please scan and email your truancy referrals and attendance reports.

Bay-Arenac Intermediate School District District Attendance Officer

4228 Two Mile Road Bay City, MI 48706 Phone: 989.667.3249 Fax: 989.667.3202

TRUANCY REFERRAL FORM

Date of Referral: ___________ Student Referred for Truancy in Previous Year: _______

Student Information

Student Name __________________________________________________________________

Address __________________________ City ___________________ Zip _______________

Birthdate _________________________ Male Female

School Information

DATE PARENT(S) NOTIFIED BY ADMINISTRATOR WITH LETTER OR PHONE CALL THAT A TRUANCY REFERRAL WOULD BE SENT IF ATTENDANCE DID NOT IMPROVE: __________________

Teacher/Counselor ________________________________________________ Grade_______

School Name ____________________________________________ Date Enrolled __________

Address __________________________ City ___________________ Zip _______________

SIGNATURE OF PRINCIPAL/ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL______________________________________

Parent Information

Father’s Name_________________________________ Home Phone #__________________

Address __________________________ City ___________________ Zip _______________

Employer ______________________________________ Work Phone #__________________

Mother’s Name_________________________________ Home Phone #__________________

Address __________________________ City ___________________ Zip _______________

Employer ______________________________________ Work Phone #__________________

Child’s Legal Guardian ___________________________________________________________

ATTENTION ALL SCHOOLS: A COPY OF THE STUDENT’S ATTENDENCE RECORD MUST BE INCLUDED WITH THIS TRUANCY REFERRAL.

STUDENT’S NAME___________________ SCHOOL______________________ GRADE_____

BAISD USE ONLY

Letter #1 __________(date) Letter #2 ___________(date)

TRUANCY REFERRAL – PAGE 2

ADMINISTRATIVE CHECKLIST

To facilitate the handling of this case, please complete the following information.

• Alternate method of handing attendance problem available? Yes No (School counselor or social worker, physician, counseling agency, social services or Circuit Court Family Division’s Crisis Intervention Program-especially if parents are cooperating and willing to go for help? Cooperative efforts work better than coercion).

PARENTS • Parents notified by phone or letter that the school was obligated by law to make a truancy referral to

BAISD if attendance didn’t improve? Yes No • Has a school/parent meeting regarding attendance already been held this year?

Yes No Comments:___________________________________________________________

• Parents cooperating with school? Yes No

STUDENT • Absences primarily related to illness? Yes No • Absences primarily related to suspensions? Yes No • Prior history of attendance problems? Yes No • Student Passing? Yes No Grades Are: _____A’s _____B’s C’s_____ D’s_____ E’s_____ • School Counselor or Social Worker already actively involved? Yes No Name: _______________________________________________ • Student involved with Circuit Court-Family Division (formerly Juvenile Court)?

Yes No Probation Officer/Caseworker:_______________________________

• Student/family already in counseling? Yes No Name of Agency/Counselor_______________________________

SPECIAL ED/ALTERNATIVE ED • Student classified as Special Ed Yes No EI____ LD____ EMI____ POHI____ SLI____ Other-Specify__________ • Need to determine Special Ed eligibility? Yes No • Should an IEP be called before Truancy Referral? Yes No • Should student be referred to an Alternative Ed program? Yes No

SAMPLE PARENT LETTER FROM TRUANCY OFFICER

DATE

Parent’s Name

RE: LACK OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BY: XXXX DOB: XXXX

Dear XXXX:

Your child, XXXX, has been repeatedly absent from school. As the Attendance Officer for the Bay-Arenac ISD, I am required by law to have you come to school to discuss your child's lack of attendance. If we are then unable to resolve the problem, I am required to report the matter to the Bay County Prosecuting Attorney. The Prosecuting Attorney then has the option of filing criminal charges and seeking a warrant for your arrest, filing delinquency charges against XXXX in Juvenile Court, filing neglect charges against you in Probate Court, or any combination of these alternatives.

Accordingly, please come to the following location at the time indicated so that we and the appropriate other school officials can talk and, hopefully, resolve this matter:

LOCATION, DATE AND TIME

If there are problems either in school or at home that are causing XXXX to miss school, it is important that you discuss them with us so that we can try to help you resolve them. A child who does not get a good education will have a difficult time being successful as an adult. We would like to work with you to ensure XXXX success for the future.

Upon receipt of this letter, your child should be in school – on time – every day unless they have a medical excuse. Please contact me at 989-667-3249 to confirm your attendance at this meeting. Please bring your driver’s license or other photo identification with you to the meeting.

Sincerely,

Attendance Officer

cc: principal

SAMPLE PARENT LETTER FOR STUDENTS UNDER THE AGE OF 6

DATE

Parent’s Name


Dear XXXX:

Your child, XXXX, has been repeatedly absent and/or tardy from school. The compulsory school attendance law requires regular and consistent attendance for students between the ages of 6 and 18. Since your child has not yet reached the age of 6, this letter is being sent to you as a courtesy, out of concern for the education of your child.

Even though your child is young, the amount of time they have been absent or tardy from school this year certainly impacts their learning. Even at this early age, habits are forming with your child – whether they are good or bad habits. The majority of students that I work with in middle school and high school had attendance problems that began in elementary school. We are trying to focus on correcting those problems at an early age so that they do not impact a child’s education at the higher grade levels.

If there are problems either in school or at home that are causing your child to miss school, it is important that you discuss them with us so that we can try to help you resolve them. School personnel would be happy to talk with you to address any concerns or problems that may be occurring.

This letter is being send to you now, as a courtesy, because your child will fall under the compulsory law next year. If this same attendance pattern continues for the 2015-16 school year, a formal truancy referral will be made to this office.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this matter, please contact me at 989-667-3249. \

Sincerely,

Attendance Officer

cc: principal

SAMPLE PARENT END-OF-THE-YEAR LETTER

DATE

Parent’s Name


Dear XXXX:

Your child, XXXX, has been repeatedly absent from school. As the Attendance Officer for the Bay-Arenac ISD, I am required by law to notify you in writing regarding the fact that you child’s absences have exceeded the number deemed acceptable by the State of Michigan, Department of Education.

Since there are only approximately five weeks left this school year, a meeting at the school will not be scheduled at this time, however, their attendance will be monitored for the remainder of this school year. In addition, XXXXX attendance will be monitored for the 2015-16 school year.

If there are problems either in school or at home that are causing XXXX to miss school, it is important that you discuss them with school district personnel so they can try to help you resolve them.

Upon receipt of this letter, your child should be in school – on time – every day unless they have a medical excuse. If you have any questions, please contact me at 989-667-3249.

Sincerely,

Attendance Officer

cc: principal

NOTICE TO PARENTS OR GUARDIANS OF THEIR CHILDREN'S NON-ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL TO: _________________________________________________________ STATE OF MICHIGAN _________________________________________________________ COUNTY OF: _____________ _________________________________________________________ YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT: Name(s): _______________________________________________a child (or children) of at least six years of age and under eighteen years of age, and under your legal control has not been attending school as required by the Compulsory School Attendance Law of the State of Michigan. YOU ARE HEREBY DIRECTED: 1. To send ________________________ to _____________________________ on the morning of

the first school day after receipt of this notice. _________________ must be in regular and consecutive attendance at school for the remainder of the school year.

2. No further absences will be acceptable/excused unless they are supported by a doctor slip or note from other professional

appointment. 3. Any absences that are not supported by a doctor slip or note from other professional appointment will be recorded as

unexcused. 4. ____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________ Continued absences without proper documentation may result in legal action taking place.

Date Served: _________________________ _____________________________________________ At: _________________________________ District Attendance Officer _________________________________ Student Signature: ______________________________ DOB: ______________ DATE: ______________ Parent Signature: ______________________________ DOB: ______________ DATE: ______________ Parent Signature: ______________________________ DOB: ______________ DATE: ______________ School Personnel: _______________________________________________ DATE: ______________

STATE OF MICHIGAN SCHOOL LAWS

SEC. 1561. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section every parent, guardian, or other person in this state having control and charge of a child from the age of 6 to the child's eighteenth birthday (6 – 18) shall send that child to a public school during the entire school year. The child's attendance shall be continuous and consecutive for the school year fixed by the school district in which the child is enrolled. Michigan Compiled Laws Section 380.1561(1). SEC. 1588. The Attendance Officer, after giving the formal notice prescribed in Section 1587, shall determine whether the parent or other person in parental relation has complied with the notice. The Attendance Officer shall make a complaint against the parent or other person in parental relation having the legal charge and control of the child who fails to comply to the court having jurisdiction in the county of residence for refusal or neglect to send the child to school. The Court shall issue a warrant upon the complaint and shall proceed to hear and determine it in the same manner as is provided for other cases under its jurisdiction. Michigan Compiled Laws Section 380.1588. SEC. 1599. A parent or other person in parental relation who fails to comply with this part is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than $5.00 nor more than $50.00, or imprisonment for not less than 2 nor more than 90 days or both. Michigan Compiled Laws Section 380.1599. SEC. 1571. (3) An Attendance Officer of an intermediate school district or a local school district shall have the powers of a deputy sheriff within the district or intermediate school district while performing official duties. Michigan Compiled Laws Section 380.1571(3).

PARENT INFORMATION FORM STUDENT’S NAME: _________________________________ DOB: __________________ SCHOOL MEETING HELD: _____ Yes _____ No (See Attached) Legal Father: _____________________________________ DOB: __________________ Address: _________________________________________ PHONE: _______________ DRIVER’S LICENSE NUMBER: _________________________________ (Attach Copy) Legal Mother: _____________________________________ DOB: __________________ Address: _________________________________________ PHONE: _______________ DRIVER’S LICENSE NUMBER: _________________________________ (Attach Copy) Guardian/Step Parent: _______________________________ DOB: _________________ Address: __________________________________________ PHONE: _______________ DRIVER’S LICENSE NUMBER: _________________________________ (Attach Copy) Parent’s Divorced: ( ) Yes ( ) No Date of Divorce: ___________________ Custody to: ( ) Father ( ) Mother ( ) Stepfather ( ) Stepmother ( ) Other __________________________ Child Living With: ( ) Father ( ) Mother ( ) Stepfather ( ) Stepmother ( ) Other __________________________ Is family on any type of cash assistance? ( ) Yes ( ) No (Explain possible consequences for excessive absences) _________________________________________________ _______________________ Parent/Guardian Signature Date _________________________________________________ _______________________ School Official Signature Date __________________________________________________ _______________________ Truancy Officer Signature Date

CONSENT TO WITHDRAW FROM SCHOOL

I, ___________________________________, acknowledge that by dropping out of high school, I am (student name)

voluntarily giving away my educational rights, privileges and opportunities. Under Michigan State law, enrolled students are entitled to a free, full-time public education. By dropping out, I am withdrawing from enrollment.

By dropping out of school, I further acknowledge that statistically:

1. I will be less likely to find a good job. 2. I will be less likely to be able to purchase items I desire. 3. I will be more likely to get caught up in criminal activity. 4. I will be more likely to spend time in jail. 5. I will be more likely to be on welfare. 6. I will likely have fewer choices about where to live. 7. I will be less likely to be able to properly care for and educate my children.

I, ____________________________________, confirm that I am 16 years old or older. I have read and fully (student name)

understand the consequences of my dropping out of high school, yet I choose to withdraw from school. I understand that even after I dropout, I have the right to return to school and be reenrolled.

____________________________________________ _________________________ Student Signature Date

(For students between 16 and 18 years old) I, ____________________________________________, confirm that my child is between the ages of (parent/guardian name)

16 and 18. I also have read and fully understand the consequences of my child dropping out of high school, yet I will allow my child to withdraw from school.

____________________________________________ __________________________ Parent Signature Date

The above-named individuals have been fully informed of the consequences of dropping out of high school. I have also informed them of alternative and adult educational services that are available in the community.

____________________________________________ _________________________ Student Signature Date

IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO STAY IN SCHOOL

School District: _________________________ School Building: ___________________________ Student ID#: ___________________________ Date: ______________________________

THE REVISED SCHOOL CODE (EXCERPT) Act 451 of 1976

Section 380.1561 380.1561 Compulsory attendance at public school; enrollment dates; exceptions.

Sec. 1561.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, for a child who turned age 11 before December 1, 2009 or who entered grade 6 before 2009, the child's parent, guardian, or other person in this state having control and charge of the child shall send that child to a public school during the entire school year from the age of 6 to the child's sixteenth birthday. Except as otherwise provided in this section, for a child who turns age 11 on or after December 1, 2009 or a child who was age 11 before that date and enters grade 6 in 2009 or later, the child's parent, guardian, or other person in this state having control and charge of the child shall send the child to a public school during the entire school year from the age of 6 to the child's eighteenth birthday. The child's attendance shall be continuous and consecutive for the school year fixed by the school district in which the child is enrolled. In a school district that maintains school during the entire calendar year and in which the school year is divided into quarters, a child is not required to attend the public school more than 3 quarters in 1 calendar year, but a child shall not be absent for 2 or more consecutive quarters.

(2) A child becoming 6 years of age before December 1 shall be enrolled on the first school day of the school year in which the child's sixth birthday occurs, and a child becoming 6 years of age on or after December 1 shall be enrolled on the first school day of the school year following the school year in which the child's sixth birthday occurs.

(3) A child is not required to attend a public school in any of the following cases:

(a) The child is attending regularly and is being taught in a state approved nonpublic school, which teaches subjects comparable to those taught in the public schools to children of corresponding age and grade, as determined by the course of study for the public schools of the district within which the nonpublic school is located.

(b) The child is less than 9 years of age and does not reside within 2-1/2 miles by the nearest traveled road of a public school. If transportation is furnished for pupils in the school district of the child's residence, this subdivision does not apply.

(c) The child is age 12 or 13 and is in attendance at confirmation classes conducted for a period of 5 months or less.

(d) The child is regularly enrolled in a public school while in attendance at religious instruction classes for not more than 2 class hours per week, off public school property during public school hours, upon written request of the parent, guardian, or person in loco parentis under rules promulgated by the state board.

(e) The child has graduated from high school or has fulfilled all requirements for high school graduation.

(f) The child is being educated at the child's home by his or her parent or legal guardian in an organized educational program in the subject areas of reading, spelling, mathematics, science, history, civics, literature, writing, and English grammar.

(4) For a child being educated at the child's home by his or her parent or legal guardian, exemption from the requirement to attend public school may exist under either subsection (3)(a) or (3)(f), or both.

(5) For a child who turns age 11 on or after December 1, 2009 or who was age 11 before that date and enters grade 6 in 2009 or later, this section does not apply to the child if the child is at least age 16 and the child's parent or legal guardian has provided to school officials of the school district in which the child resides a written notice that the child has the permission of the parent or legal guardian to stop attending school.

Sally’s Paraphrasing

Requirement of attending school until age 18:

Child turns 11 on or after December 1, 2009 – DOB 12-1-98 or after OR

Child who was 11 prior to Dec 1, 2009 (DOB prior to 12-1-98) BUT entered 6th grade in 2009 or later

administrator vs. truancy...

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