Attendance, Truancy,

A2A & ADA

Travis Unified School District

December, 2012

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Research proves that students who are chronically absent in Kindergarten and 1st grade are far less likely to read proficiently by 3rd grade

For every missed day of school, it takes up to three days to make up what was taught

By 6th grade, a student who is chronically absent is a leading indicator of being a high school drop out

In 9th grade, chronic absences are a better indicator than test scores of a student’s likelihood to graduate from high school

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Why is Attendance Important For

Our Students?

TUSD is in the first year of a contractual agreement with School Innovations and Advocacy (SIA) to help improve student attendance and provide tools and supports for staff

Completes regular mailings to families regarding truancy and excessive absent notices

Merges attendance data and related documentation with Aeries, our student data system

Provides consistent procedures and timelines across the district

Provides training, support, and monitoring services for staff at school sites and the central office

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A2A Attention To Attendance

Solano County District Attorney’s Office

Solano County Office of Education

• School Attendance Tool Kit “Every Minute Matters”

• Regular Student Services Meetings for Solano County School District Representatives

Local Police and Law Enforcement Departments

Local Media and Publications

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County Wide Efforts and Collaboration

I. TRUANT

II. HABITUAL TRUANT

III. CHRONIC TRUANT

IV. EXCESSIVE ABSENCES

V. CHRONIC ABSENTEE

VI. S.A.R.B.

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Attendance and Truancy Terms What Do These Mean?

Students shall be classified as truant if absent from school

without a valid excuse three full days in one school year, or

tardy or absent for more than any 30-minute period during the

school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one

school year, or any combination thereof. Such students shall be

reported to the Superintendent or designee. (Education Code

48260)

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Definition of Truant

A student who has been reported truant three or more times within the same school year. A student in this case shall be classified as a habitual truant. (Education Code 48262, 48264.5)

Students who are habitual truants, irregular in school attendance, or habitually insubordinate or disorderly during attendance at school may be referred to, and required to attend, a School Attendance Review Board (SARB), a truancy mediation program established by the district attorney or the probation officer, or a comparable program deemed acceptable by the district's attendance supervisor. (Education Code 48263, 48264.5)

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Definition of Habitual Truant

Chronic Truant

A student who has been absent from school without a valid excuse for 10% or more of the school days in one school year, from the date of enrollment to the current date. (Education Code 4263.6)

Chronic Absentee

A student who is absent for any reason, whether excused or unexcused, on 10 percent or more of the school days, in the school year. (Education Code 60901)

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Definition of Chronic Truant and Chronic Absentee

In 1974, the Legislature enacted California Education Code (EC) Section 48320 to enhance the enforcement of compulsory education laws and to divert students with school attendance or behavior problems from the juvenile justice system until all available resources have been exhausted. EC Section 48321 provides several organizational structures for SARBs at the local and county level to create a safety net for students with persistent attendance or behavior problems.

SARBs help truant or recalcitrant students and their parents or guardians solve school attendance and behavior problems through the use of available school and community resources. Although the goal of SARBs is to keep students in school and provide them with a meaningful educational experience, SARBs do have the power, when necessary, to refer students and their parents or guardians to court.

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SARB School Attendance Review Board

Dollar Cost to our District When a Student Misses a Day of School?

*Approximately $39.51 Per Day *Based on non-deficit funding

Educational Cost to our Students When they Miss a Day of School?

Name Your Price

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What’s the Cost?

Month 1 8/17/11-9/9/11 8/22/12 - 9/14/12

2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013

Center 97.13% 97.17% 97.80% 0.63

Travis 98.14 98.16% 98.73% 0.57

Scandia 97.72 98.02% 98.14% 0.12

Golden West 97.7 97.88% 97.80% -0.08

Cambridge 97.05 97.93% 97.64% -0.29

Foxboro 97.57 98.16% 98.38% 0.22

Vanden 97.62 97.77% 98.11% 0.34

District Wide 97.56 97.87% 98.09% 0.22

Month 2 9/12/11-10/7/11 9/17/12 - 10/12/12

2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013

Center 97.54% 98.01% 98.10% 0.09

Travis 98.05 98.05% 98.46% 0.41

Scandia 97.23 97.69% 97.90% 0.21

Golden West 97.3 97.72% 97.57% -0.15

Cambridge 97.67 97.71% 98.01% 0.3

Foxboro 97.79 97.63% 97.98% 0.36

Vanden 97.12 97.08% 97.22% 0.14

District Wide 97.53 97.70% 97.89% 0.19

Month 3 10/15/12 - 11/9/12

2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013

Center 96.72% 97.31% 97.27% -0.04

Travis 97.3 97.26% 97.85% 0.59

Scandia 96.68 97.14% 97.65% 0.51

Golden West 96.97 97.01% 97.86% 0.85

Cambridge 96.73 97.06% 96.84% -0.22

Foxboro 96.71 96.92% 97.41% 0.49

Vanden 96.56 96.71% 96.64% -0.07

District Wide 96.81 97.06% 97.36% 0.3

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STUDENT ATTENDANCE

IN TRAVIS

SO HOW ARE WE DOING WITH

AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE SO FAR THIS YEAR?

“Attention2Attendance” tools and procedures are helping to communicate with students and families, especially those with truancy and/or high absenteeism issues

“Every Minute Matters” and our district and county wide efforts do count in educating our students

THANK YOU!

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In Conclusion…