ANTI-TRUANCY PLAN AND PROCESSES MARK EMANUEL MENDOZA, DIRECTOR THE - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

ANTI-TRUANCY PLAN AND PROCESSES MARK EMANUEL MENDOZA, DIRECTOR THE ALPHA INITIATIVE STUDENT RETENTION AND TRUANCY PREVENTION EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT

AGENDA • Introductions 1 • Changes in Texas Truancy Law • Anti-Truancy Manual 2 • Accounting and Training • Student Identification • 45 Day Improvement Plan 3 • Certifying Statement • Truancy Filing and Referral

TO BOLDLY GO WHERE NO ANTI- TRUANCY INITIATIVE HAS GONE BEFORE

 Previously, Texas was one of two states that made truancy a criminal violation with cases heard by municipal judges or justices of the peace.  Students and parents could be fined and, under some circumstances, a student could be incarcerated for poor attendance.

 HB 2398 Changes:  Students with a third unexcused absence will require parent notification.  Schools and parents are required to develop a 45 day Intervention Plan for any student with 3 unexcused absences.  Students who are homeless, pregnant, in foster care, or are the primary earner for the family are referred for counseling support.

 HB 2398 Changes:  If truancy continues or the student and/or family fail to comply with the Intervention Plan, the student and parent can be referred to truancy court.  Truancy courts may subject students to a Remediative Order including referrals to community services, counseling and other supports; parents are still subject to fines up to a maximum of $500.

OPERATIONS MANUAL COMMON COMPONENTS  ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING PROCESSES  ATTENDANCE TRAINING FOR STAKEHOLDERS  IDENTIFICATION OF STUDENTS  ACADEMIC INTERVENTIONS  PSYCHOSOCIAL INTERVENTIONS  ANTI TRUANCY COURT PROCEDURES

COMPONENT 1 ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING Attendance accuracy allows a district to maximize the number of dollars earned by that district through the Average Daily Attendance model used by the state of Texas. Attendance accuracy also ensures district credibility when serving as the state’s witness in Truancy Court. ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING Each school should utilize an advanced electronic attendance accounting system that, with appropriate training for key personnel, provides an accurate reflection of students’ daily attendance patterns.

COMPONENT 1 ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING ATTENDANCE REPORTING Each school should have the ability to report student-level attendance utilizing an easily comprehensible printed report that differentiates between excused absences, unexcused absences, reasons for absences, and tardies. Printouts of these reports are required as a part of the student case file for referral/filing for truancy ATTENDANCE CORRECTION PROCEDURES Processes should exist in each school to address parent notes, excuses from school, and correction of classroom- level attendance accounting errors such that each school can confirm accuracy of attendance data presented in court.

COMPONENT 2 ATTENDANCE TRAINING The following are the major areas of training that should be implemented at all schools in your EPISD:  Attendance Accounting Procedures Texas Education Code Chapter 25 as it pertains to  Attendance Districtwide Definitions for “Tardy” and “Unexcused  Absence” Truancy Court Referral/Filing Procedures  Courtroom Comportment and Standards   Creating a Student Attendance Case File Truancy Prevention Interventions 

COMPONENT 3 STUDENT IDENTIFICATION The early identification of students who may be in danger of establishing a pattern of truancy is vital. In order to proactively address truancy prevention, intervention must happen as soon as a student begins to demonstrate a pattern of unexcused absence. REQUIRED NOTICE ON THREE UNEXCUSED ABSENCES IN A FOUR WEEK PERIOD Each school flags students upon acquisition of the third unexcused absence and begins a documented process of parent contact in order to attempt to ensure parental awareness of the issue and cooperation including the legally required notice by mail.

COMPONENT 3 STUDENT IDENTIFICATION FREQUENTLY ABSENT REPORTS All member districts make use of reporting functions that identify students who are being absent to class on a frequent basis such that contact may be made and the issue addressed. MULTI-YEAR IDENTIFICATION School s should also follow students demonstrating a pattern of truancy from year to year such that there is continuity of services as the student progresses from grade to grade.

COMPONENT 4 45 DAY IMPROVEMENT PLAN Academic Intervention ideas for the plan: Required Parent/Teacher Interaction   Student Attendance Contracts Teacher Assisted Tutorial Programs  Student Assisted Tutorial Programs   Credit Recovery Programs Afterschool Programs  Saturday School  School-Based Community Services  Computer Assisted Instruction  Alternative Credit Recovery High Schools 

COMPONENT 4 45 DAY IMPROVEMENTPLAN Each school should provide a range of interventions that employ techniques and personnel geared toward assisting students in removing barriers to their attendance including: Teacher conferences  Administrator conferences   Counselors At-risk coordinators  Social workers/Alpha Team Members   Attendance impact teams Referral to internal district resources  Referral to community resources 

THINGS DON’T GO THE WAY YOU PLANNED…

FILING ON PARENTS  As a last resort.  Review documentation.  Only file if the parent has been uncooperative or has not been a part of the Anti-Truancy Process

REFERRING STUDENTS  This is no longer a CRIMINAL FILING.  Must be able to prove that student did not comply with 45 day plan.  Must be able to prove significant intervention.  Ages 12 to 19.

BOLDLY GO!

SUCCESS IS THE JOURNEY, NOT THE DESTINATION.