Attendance Review Board

The family, school and community are all partners in working t o w a r d t h e goal of school attendance and educational success. Minnesota law requiring school attendance is "designed t o provide a continuum of intervention and services t o support families and children in school and combating truancy and educational neglect." A t three unexcused absences, t h e school is

Consequences for Violating School Attendance Laws

Failure to attend and participate in the Attendance Review Board or follow through with the requirements of the contract may result in a Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS) petition being filed in District Court. The Court will intervene and order parents to follow its recommendations to address the causes of the educational neglect, including: Counseling or evaluation of the parent and child Participation in educational programs Cooperation with Steele County Human Services in developing a case plan The parent or guardian may also be prosecuted for failure to provide an education. Conviction for this crime carries a penalty of up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,000.
The A t t e n d a n c e R e v i e w B o a r d p r o c e s s is

S T E E L EC O U N T Y Attorney
303 South Cedar A Owatonna, MN 55060

legally required t o notify t h e parent or guardian t h a t t h e child is a "continuing t r u a n t . " At a total of five absences, unexcused

S C H O O L ATTENDANCE & ATTENDANCE R E V I E W BOARD

t h e school will send o u t a notice

t h a t t h e parent or guardian and t h e student are expected t o attend t h e Attendance Review Board led by t h e Steele County Attorney's Office. This meeting will include school officials, school and county social workers, and other service provider representatives as needed. At t h e meeting, the participants will review t h e laws regarding school attendance and t h e diversion process. A contract w i t h t h e student and family will be established and t h e student will be placed under supervision t o attend school. If t h e student continues t o have unexcused absences, t h e school will inform t h e Steele County Attorney's Office and Steele County Human Services w h e n t h e student has seven unexcused absences. The Steele County Attorney's Office will determine w h a t action should be taken.

From the Steele County Attorney's Office:

The Steele County Attorney's Office works in partnership with the Owatonna Public Schools (Independent School District 761) and Steele County Human Services to ensure our school-aged children are attending school, and to assist families and students in obtaining the help they may need to be successful in school.

d e s i g n e d to avoid c o u r t i n v o l v e m e n t .

Your child's education is our community's future.

A Message from the County Attorney

W e all w a n t our children t o become successful adults. Regular attendance at school is t h e best way t o achieve t h a t goal. Children w h o attend school daily and on t i m e are more successful in school and in their everyday lives, and are also less likely t o act in a self-destructive w a y or t o get into trouble w i t h the community. The Steele County Attorney's Office, Steele County Human Services and t h e Owatonna Public Schools have partnered t o address t h e issue o f educational neglect of students K-6. The school will refer students w h o have attendance problems t o t h e Attendance Review Board, which is a diversionary process designed t o help t h e student and family address t h e underlying factors contributing t o excessive absences. The goal o f t h e Attendance Review Board is t o avoid f u r t h e r court action, and t o get t h e student and family "back on track" in school.

W h e n a child has seven or more unexcused absences, state law requires t h a t t h e school notify Steele County. Educational neglect occurs when a child is in need of protection or services because the child is w i t h o u t t h e necessary education because t h e child's parent or guardian is unable or unwilling t o provide t h a t care. M i n n . Stat. 260C.007. subd. 6.

Responsibility of the School

Address problems identified as barriers t o the student's ability t o attend and learn Maintain accurate attendance records and document communication w i t h t h e student and family about attendance Refer t h e student t o Steele County w h e n there is reason t o believe t h e child's education is being neglected

What does it mean to be "absent" from school?

A parent or guardian may ask f o r an excused absence f r o m school f o r his or her child. The school has t h e right t o accept or deny a request for an excused absence as set f o r t h in t h e Owatonna Public Schools Student Attendance Policy. Acceptable excuses include: .S Sickness (a note f r o m a doctor or school nurse may be required) S Doctor appointment (including mental health, dentist, orthodontist) S S Religious holiday Extreme family emergency (determined on case-by-case basis) Invalid excuses include: X X X X X X Needed t o stay home (babysitting, etc.) child overslept or was sleepy Travel or vacation Cold weather Missed t h e bus Child n o t immunized . Parent n o t aware of school schedule

Participate in t h e Attendance Review Board and notify Steele County if t h e contract is n o t being followed Inform t h e student and family o f t h e legal requirement t o attend school and t h e consequences if they fail t o meet t h a t requirement.

Responsibility of the Family

Send your child t o school Ensure your child has completed required homework M o n i t o r your child's attendance and progress in school Inform t h e school w h e n your child may need t o miss school f o r an acceptable reason Attend and participate in t h e Attendance Review Board and follow all ;' recommendations of t h e contract

If excessive absences or tardies continue, then t h e student and family will be referred t o our office f o r a Child in Need of Protection or Services (CHIPS) petition. In such a CHIPS action, t h e District Court will mandate services and actions t h a t t h e family and student must take. Our hope is t h a t t h e Attendance Review Board process will permit families and students t o improve their lives w i t h o u t court involvement. W e all benefit w h e n our children get t h e education they need and deserve. Daniel A. Mcintosh

Responsibility of the Student

Attend school on t i m e , each and every hour o f every school day Complete required school w o r k Ask f o r help w h e n you need it Attend and participate in t h e Attendance Review Board and follow all recommendations o f t h e contract

Steele County A t t o r n e y

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SCHOOL ATTENDANCE MAKES A DIFFERENCE

One of the mo t important things families can do to help their children ucqeed is to make sure they attend school regul-uly Students might skip chool once or twice on a whim, but Mthen they frtquentlv miss school, they need help. Truancy 1 often a warning sign that a student is having trouble Left unchecked, truancy can have strong negative effects on tudents' lives. It can block future opportunities and lead to drug use, daytime crime, and violence Trouble at school is one of the main reasons students become truant Common reasons for truancy include: Friend who lap school Monev problems Depres ion Learning problems Drug or alcohol use Friend hip difticulties Fear of buIlvin->;, harassment, or violence Language or cultural barriers

EXCUSED ABSENCES

Schools know there are times when a student won't be able to attend classes. They allow students to miss class for reasons such as:

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W H E N A R E STUDENTS TRUANT

Students are considered truant when they miss school or class without a valid excuse.

Illness Death of a family member Doctor appointments that cannot be scheduled after regular school hours Religious holidays

In Minnesota, students must attend school until age 16. Teens ages 16 and 17 may lawfully withdraw from school only iftheirparents give written permissionfollowing a meeting wi schoolpersonnel. I f teens haven't lawfully withdrawn, they are considered truant. Students who become truant may be classified as either continuing or habitual truants, depending on how often they miss school.

Because each school has a different way of defining a 'Valid" or "excused" absence, check with your child's school to find out its definition. Excused absences should be explained in the Student Handbook. W H E N Y O U R C H I L D IS A B S E N T W I T H A V A L I D EXCUSE: Contact the school attendance clerk the day of the absence. State the reason for the absence, and tell when you think your child will return. Keep a written record of who you spoke to and the date you called. W H E N YOUR C H I L D RETURNS T O SCHOOL: Make sure you give the school a written note explaining the absence. Keep a copy for yourself.

CONTINUING TRUANTS Elementary school, absent three or more days in the school year without a valid excuse. Middle school, junior high school, or high school, abse for three or more class periods on three or more days in the school year without a valid excuse. When a student becomes a continuing truant, the school must notify the parents immediately.

Families and school cm work together to find out what's happening Together they can take steps to help student meet their challenges.

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FIVE STRATEGIES TO ENCOURAGE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Let your children know that you value education. Insisrthey gq to school every day. Talk with jour child about school. Is your child struggling with dioolwork, classmates, or other pmbki J ' V 1 J i can help.
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H A B I T U A L TRUANTS Elementary school, absent for seven or more days without a valid excuse. Middle school, junior high school, or high school, abse for one or more class periods on at least seven school days without a valid excuse. When a student becomes a habitual truant: The school may require the student and his/her parents to go to a school attendance review board. The student may have to go to juvenile court. The student's driver's license may be suspended, delayed, or restricted Parents may be found guilty of a misdemeanor. Parents may be charged with educational neglect. They may also face a Child In Need Of Protection Or Services (CHIPS) petition.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

When students miss school for other reasons, the absence is unexcused. Schools define unexcused absences in different ways, so check the policy at your child's school. Some examples of unexcused absences include: Staying home to take care of siblings Missing the school bus Making doctor appointments that could have been scheduled after regular school hours Refusing to go to school Skipping school for the day or for a class period Working at a job

3.

Discuss yout concerns with your child's teachers. A k them to help . ou with a written plan to help your child succeed Does your child peed a tutor or assessment for pedal etwees' Vsk for referrals to community programs, and don t hesitate to use mediation or conn eling-services Get to know your cl ild's friends and their families.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE AUTHORITIES FIND TRUANT STUDENTS

A police or probation, officer may take the student to: The student's home and the care of the student's parent The student's school and the care of the staff at school

D O D G E C O U N T Y FAMILY S E R V I C E S C O L L A B O R A T IVE
The Dodge County Family Services CoU.iborative exists to promote a better place for families to raise their children by nurturing collaboration and building bridges between people and agencies who share a vision of a healthier community.. The Dodge County Family Services Coll iborjtive has been developed through a grant provided by the State of Minnesota. The grant requires all services provided by the FarrnJy Services Collaborative to be preventative and t u:l, intervention focused. In addition, all stmces provided by the Family Services Collab< irative must be available to ALT, families in Dodge County, and must be provided free of charge The Dodge County Family Services Collaborative has developed an intervention program that targets truant students in grades K through 12 The program offers supportive services 10 families of truant students, while encouraging parental responsibility for their children's education

HHHHIHI TRUANCY INTERVENTION PROJECT

A FAMILY G U I D E T O UNDERSTANDING AND SEEKING HELP FOR TRUANCY.

I f the officer believes a child is a habitual truant who needs protection and/or services, the officer may require the student to go to juvenile court.

WHAT C A NPARENTS DO?

You are not alone. Many families are concerned about their children's school attendance, and help is available. Talk to the staff at your child's school. Teachers, principals, counselors, social workers, and family service workers at your child's school may be able to help you understand why your child is truant Visit the school i f possible to understand what's going on in your child's day. Ask the school staff how they can help you. The district may offer extra programs and services-such as tutoring or alternative settings-that would help your student with attendance. Reach out to other family members and friends. Talk to other parents, especially the parents of your child's friends. They may have information or ideas that can help. Connect with professionals for advice. Community programs, school social workers, family service workers, counselors, therapists, and clergy can all offer insight and support. Monitor your child's attendance: Request your child's attendance records from your child's school Ask the school to contact you immediately if your child is absent without a valid excuse. Periodically check in with your child's teachers to find out how things are going for your student.

Do you have more questions about Truancy? Call the Dodge County Family Services Collaborative at 507-634-4334.

DCFSC Dodge County Family Services Collaborative 13 West Main Street Kasson, MN 55944 Phone: 507-634-4334 Fax: 507-634-4327

DCFSC

T E L 507-634-4334