Implementing a Truancy Program - Michigan Pupil Accounting and

4/21/2015
TRUANCY INTERVENTION
Administrator vs. Truancy Officer
Jackie Laymac
Sally Washington
Educational Consultant
Laymac & Associates
jackie.laymac@gmail.com
Educational Consultant
Washington Works
swashington@cgresd.net
In-School Intervention
Elementary
 Counselor (if possible)
 Unexcused Absence Definition
 Intervene at 3 Unexcused
Absences
 Parent Intervention
1
4/21/2015
In-School Intervention
 Elementary
 Truancy
Officer Meeting
 Pre-Court Meeting with Assistant
Prosecutor/Student/Parent
 Documentation
In-School Intervention
 Middle School
 Critical
Age
 Social Worker/School Psychologist
 Saturday School
 Lunch Study
 Homework Support
2
4/21/2015
In-School Intervention
 Middle School
 Removal of special class for
academic support
 Parent Intervention
 Truancy
Officer Meeting
 Pre-Court Meeting with Assistant
Prosecutor/Student/Parent
 Documentation
In-School Intervention
High School
 Counselor/School
Psychologist
 Regular (every 2 weeks) Parent
Intervention/Meeting/Class
 Saturday School
 In-School Suspension
3
4/21/2015
In-School Intervention
High School (Continued)
 Academic
Support
 Truancy Officer Meeting
 Pre-Court Meeting with Assistant
Prosecutor/Student/Parent
 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
4
4/21/2015
Truancy Officer Intervention
 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
Truancy Officer Intervention
 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
5
4/21/2015
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
6
4/21/2015
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
7
4/21/2015
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
8
4/21/2015
 Referral Guidelines
 Referral Form
 Sample Letters
 Record of Parent Meeting
 Parent Information Form
 Consent to Withdraw Form
 Revised Compulsory Attendance Law
 Flowchart
9
TRUANCY FLOWCHART
BAY-ARENAC ISD
ISD ACTION
DISTRICT ACTION
Follow District
Attendance Policy
Truancy letter to
parent/guardian.
Documented
District Action
Review attendance
history & grades.
Contact parent/
guardian and student.
Contact with parent/
guardian
Initial contact MUST
come from local district.
Meeting with
Parent
Discuss problems
and develop action
plan. Phone call is
acceptable. Either
must be documented.
Utilize Resources
School psychologist,
counselor, etc.
COURT ACTION
Failure of
response or
cooperation
from parent
results
in ISD referral
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 and/or failure
Continued absences
and/or tardies not
meeting components of
attendance contract …
of response or
cooperation from
parent results in
referral to Bay-Arenac
ISD. Submit weekly
attendance updates.
Exhausted all
Efforts
Court Referral
Failure of
response or
cooperation
from parent
results in
court
referral
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 __________________________
Birthdate _________________________
City ___________________
Male
Zip _______________
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_________________________________
Address __________________________
Home Phone #__________________
City ___________________
Zip _______________
Employer ______________________________________ Work Phone #__________________
Mother’s Name_________________________________
Address __________________________
Home Phone #__________________
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.
BAISD USE ONLY
Letter #1
__________(date)
STUDENT’S NAME___________________
Letter #2
___________(date)
SCHOOL______________________ GRADE_____
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
EI____
LD____
EMI____
POHI____
Other-Specify__________
• Need to determine Special Ed eligibility?
• Should an IEP be called before Truancy Referral?
• Should student be referred to an Alternative Ed program?
Yes
SLI____
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
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
RE: LACK OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE BY: XXXX
DOB: XXXX
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
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 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:
Custody to:
( ) Yes
( ) No
Date of Divorce: ___________________
( ) Father ( ) Mother ( ) Stepfather ( ) Stepmother
( ) Other __________________________
Child Living With:
( ) Father ( ) Mother ( ) Stepfather
( ) Other __________________________
( ) Stepmother
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