Post on 11-Jul-2020
ANTI-TRUANCY PLAN AND
PROCESSES
MARK EMANUEL MENDOZA, DIRECTOR
THE ALPHA INITIATIVE
STUDENT RETENTION AND TRUANCY PREVENTION
EL PASO INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
• Introductions
• Changes in Texas TruancyLaw
1
• Anti-Truancy Manual
• Accounting and Training
• Student Identification2
• 45 Day Improvement Plan
• Certifying Statement
• Truancy Filing and Referral3
AGENDA
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 ACCOUNTINGAttendance 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 ACCOUNTINGATTENDANCE 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 TRAININGThe 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 IDENTIFICATIONThe 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 PLANAcademic 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.