Transcript Every Day Counts - Chronic Absenteeism

Chronic
Absenteeism
SARB Process
›California
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›In
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›Chronic
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›It
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›The
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is facing an attendance crisis
out of every 5 elementary school students were truant
in 2011-12 school year.
California, chronic absence is defined as being absent
for any reason excused or unexcused for at least 10% of
the school year.
absence is repetitive between siblings and
through generations.
is a learned behavior.
cycle can be broken!
• Our focus is overall ADA
• Where we started…
• 2009-2010(Pre Present day SARB program)
• 3 of 12 Elementary schools at 94% attendance
• 2013-2014
• All but one elementary 96%
• One elementary reached 97% (first school in the district to
reach 97%)
Truancy to
Chronic Absenteeism
P-2 Percentages
96.4
96.2
96
95.8
95.6
95.4
P-2 Percentages
95.2
95
94.8
94.6
2009-2010 2013-2014
Pre present day
SARB program
P2 Percentages
• Every year modify our program
• Each site running their own letters-Attendance
Technicians
• Twice a month
• Last year 13-14 purchased SI&A Attention to Attendance
• Run the letters weekly
Letters
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“Word Gets Out”
Parents and students talk to one another
Everyone gets a letter
Taking parents/guardians to prosecution
Using our classroom understanding to emphasize the
importance of a student being in the classroom every day
on time
Creating a culture
• Evolution of SARTS
• Principals met with parents
• Groups SARTS in the theater
• Individuals SARTS in our office/secondary at site includes the
minor
• Offering resources, documenting and starting the process
• From two specialists to four specialists
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Credentialed teachers
Leads at each site
Secondary by alpha and Spanish speakers
Handle the case from beginning to end
Focus SARTS
• Follows the First Notification Mandate (EC)
• Focus on all absences excused and unexcused
• As the culture changes we modify the distribution number for
each letter so our focus is always early intervention
• Five codes generate our letters
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U-Unexcused
A-Unverified
W-With parent permission (anything not excusable by law)
R-Truant EC Section 48260
S-Excused (without a doctor’s note)
 Parent/Guardian communication encouraged
 Doctor’s notes are coded and documented.
Letter Generating Codes
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Letter 1 at 5 absences
Letter 2 SART meeting at 10 absences
Letter 3 SARB meeting at 15 absences
Absences without medical documentation following this
are referred to the DA for mediation or prosecution
• Each site is responsible for exempting students with
DOCUMENTED medical conditions
‘14-’15 Letter Process
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SART is our most effective tool
Significant drop in numbers between SART and SARB
Communication with parents is key
Each specialist is responsible for scheduling and holding
SARTS per assigned site
• Elementary meetings are held at our office
• Secondary are held at the site so as to speak with both parent
and minor
SART-Early Intervention
Typical SART meeting:
• Conducted individually
• Review overall absences
• Give parent opportunity to explain the reason
for the absences
• Explain the 10% law
• Discuss other issues such as tardies, grades,
and discipline
• Include notes, recommendations, resources
offered and current attendance on contract
SART Conference
• Most common reasons for absences are
• Transportation
• Medical issues
• Secondary students non-compliance (history of poor attendance)
• Offer Resources
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Bus Passes
Parent Project
Referrals to counseling
Referrals to YAT (Youth Accountability Team)
Saturday School
• Expectations for parents written on the contract (DA request)
• To provide medical documentation for illnesses or conditions
• To sign up for a monitoring system i.e. PAMS
• To stay in communication with the school site
Absences and Assistance
• SARB process explained
• Consequences of future absences → possible DA referral
• Difficult parents
• Ensure parents that our goal is to help
• Listen and try to stay positive!
Consequences
• Call to reschedule
• Conduct a phone SART (if necessary)
• Home visit
• If no one is home, leave a copy of the contract and our
contact information
• On the contract we strongly urge the parent to contact us or
the case may be referred to the DA
• Everything is then documented in AERIES
NO SHOWS
Student Attendance Review Board
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Be familiar with their specific issue
Each specialist is responsible for scheduling their own SARBS
Request parent/guardian and minor to attend
SARB Board
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Director of CWA
Probation Officer from YAT
Police Officer
District Nurse
School Site Personnel
District Mental Health
Attendance Specialist
School site attendance personnel
SARB
SARB Hearing
• Check to see if parent utilized the resources offered at SART
• Review attendance notes for reasons the student had additional
absences
• Explain that this is the last step before DA involvement
• Additional resources offered
• Shadowing a student
• Drop off and pick up
• Parent Project
• YAT
• Alternative Educational options
• Nurse recommendations for students with medical conditions
• Parent signs contract with the understanding any future absences not
covered by a Doctor’s note may cause the case to be referred to DA
• All recommendations are written on SARB contract
• Meeting is documented in AERIES
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Phone call made to reschedule
Conduct home visit/leave SARB contract at residence
Case may be referred to DA
SARB contract is essential for prosecution
Document all activity and communications in AERIES
SARB No Shows
• Any future absences not covered by a Doctor’s note may
cause the case to be referred to DA for mediation or
prosecution.
• We hold two mediations a month
• Every 4th Friday of month is prosecution
DA Mediation/ Prosecution
• Provide to DA
•Updated student attendance
•Current Grades
•Interventions
•Attendance tech notes
•Discipline record
•Proof of service
•Copy of A2A Letters
•Medical Notes
•Signed SART/ SARB contracts
DA Mediation/Prosecution
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Continue to improve our attendance culture
Communicating effectively with families
Early Interventions
Every year we modify the program to increase its
efficiency and effectiveness
Goals
2013-14 Truancy SaveRate vs. A2A California
the higher, the better
Average
State Average SaveRate (CA): 47.7%
District Average SaveRate: 66.0%
All CA
Districts
Val Verde Unified
Data as of 03/28/2014
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Val Verde Unified School District
Attendance Enforcement Team
951-940-6100
Jennifer Peterson
Cynthia Leon
Jimm Toth
Phil Steward
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
ex. 10478
ex. 10501
ex. 10477
ex. 10480
Contact Information