# Presentation: 483479

## Granite School District Attendance Program

## Process Overview	

- Attendance Policy sent home
- Habitual Truants Identified and Reviewed
- 1st Habitual Truancy Notice mailed to parent/ legal guardian (5 days unexcused absences)
- 2nd Habitual Truancy Notice mailed to parent/legal guardian (10 days unexcused absences)
- 3rd Habitual Truancy Notice mailed to parent/legal guardian (15 days unexcused absences)

## Attendance Policy	

- Copy of the Granite School District Attendance Policy is provided to all incoming students.
- 1st day packet (Elementary)
- Registration packet (Jr. & Sr. High)
- Double sided document, copied on bright yellow paper (English & Spanish).

## Identification of Habitual Truants	

- “Hot sheet” generated
- Report that identifies students with 5 or more unexcused absences.
- Administrators, Counselors, Secretaries, Team meeting
- Discuss and request attendance interventions

## 1st Habitual Truancy Notice (5 days of unexcused absence)	

- Review student at Team or Administrator meeting.
- 1st letter prepared
- Created using a WordPerfect merge document.
- Letter printed on individual school letterhead
- Letter signed by Principal or designated person
- Granite School District Attendance Policy enclosed with 1st letter.
- Envelope created using the same merge document
- Blank Legal size envelopes, with return number address only.
- Enter data on Excel spreadsheet

## 2nd Habitual Truancy Notice (10 days of unexcused absence)

- Review student at Team or Administrator meeting.
- 2nd letter prepared
-  Follow 1st letter procedure
- Attendance Specialist contacts parent/legal guardian and student two (2) days prior to pre-court hearing.
- Phone contact, face to face, home visits
- Pre-Court hearings are not rescheduled, exceptions should be limited.
- Medical verification form enclosed with 2nd letter.
- Enter data on Excel spreadsheet.

## Pre-Court Hearing/Truancy Group

- Conducted by District representative.
- Information session for parent/legal guardian and student(s)
- Groups held at school locations throughout Granite School District (approximately 1 hour)
- Attendance Specialist present and a school representative is invited to address attendance issues.

## Pre-Court Hearing /Truancy Group Information Presented -- Elementary

- Compulsory Education Law reviewed.
- Granite School District Attendance Policy reviewed.
- What will happen to parent/legal guardian, sanctions.
- Tardy policy, 4/7th of day policy.

## Pre-Court Hearing/Truancy Group Information Presented – Jr. & Sr. High

- Knowledge
- Why they are there
- Choice
- All day, everyday & on-time.
- Mandatory Sanctions
- Attend all day, everyday & on-time
- $225.00 Fine
- Up to 100 CSH
- Home Rules

- Additional Sanctions
- Counseling
- D&A testing & evaluations
- Psychiatric & Psychological evaluations.
- Family Assessments
- Salt Lake Valley Detention Center
- Home Detention
- DART
- TASC
- Out of home placement
- Drop out scenario

## Elementary

- Parent/legal guardian automatically referred to Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office for prosecution (class B Misdemeanor)
- Referral completed by school representative ie.  Social Worker, Psychologist, Principal, Vice Principal.
- Referral submitted to Tifny Iacona
- Referral reviewed and submitted to the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s office.
- Referral reviewed, accepted or denied.  If accepted, referral petitioned.
- Referral sworn too and assigned to a Juvenile Court Judge.
- Court date given (one month min.) school notified of court date and time.  Parent/legal guardian personally served by the Salt Lake Sheriffs Department.
- Parent/legal guardian, school representatives attend a Pre-trial/Arraignment.
- Parent/legal guardian admit, deny or enter a plea and abeyance.
- Case continued for review.

## Pre-Court Hearing/Truancy Group Failure to Appear – Jr. & Sr. High

- Student automatically referred to the 3rd District Juvenile Court.
- Referral completed by school counselor
- Referral submitted to Tifny Iacona
- Referral reviewed and submitted to the Juvenile Court.
- Referral reviewed, accepted or denied.  If accepted, referral petitioned.
- Matter scheduled before Commissioner Russell, Truancy Court.
- Court date and time given, school, parent/legal guardian notified by mail.
- Student, parent/legal guardian, school representative attend Pre-trial/Arraignment.
- Student admits or denies allegation.
- If denial is entered, the matter is scheduled for further Pre-trial or Trial.
- Sanctions imposed
- Matter scheduled for further review

## Pre-Court Hearing/Truancy GroupAttended – Elementary, Jr. & Sr. High

- Students attendance is monitored by Attendance Specialist.
- Progress noted, encouragement from school to student, parent/legal guardian.

## 3rd Habitual Truancy Notice (15 days of unexcused absence)

- Review student at Team or Administrator meeting.
- 3rd letter prepared
- Follow 1st letter procedure
- 3rd letter should be sent the corresponding day the referral is submitted to Tifny Iacona.

## TITLE VI

- 	ATTENDANCE PROGRAM FOR AT‐RISK STUDENTS
- 	**JOB DESCRIPTION**
**Mission Statement:**
_**It is the mission of the Title VI Attendance Program for At‐Risk Students To;**_
- 1.  Provide opportunities for students to have positive school experiences,
- 2.  Build self‐esteem,
- 3.  Increase academic skills by attending classes regularly and on time.
_**The Title VI Specialist supports this mission by;**_
- 1.  Identifying at‐risk students with the recommendation of the team.
- 2.  Monitoring attendance on a daily basis.
- 3.  Acting as an at‐risk student advocate with teachers, administrators, and the team.
- 4.  Informing parents of the attendance and progress of their student.
_**Objectives:**_
- _The Title VI Attendance Program for At‐Risk Students will support the Multidisciplinary Team by serving at‐risk students as referred._
_**Interact Personally With Students to Build a Foundation of Friendship And Trust**_
- Identify students with excessive absences by:
- 	Printing a report each week to identify all of the students that have missed (5) five or more days of 	school unexcused.  Monitor students attendance on a daily basis to promote good attendance habits by:
- 	Checking classes, recess, lunch, halls and completing school and home visits.
- 	Improve communication between school and parent to establish a positive and supportive relationship.
- 	Recognize student improvement through appropriate follow‐up activities to build self‐esteem.
- 	Interface with counselors, social workers, psychologist, and other staff to increase communication and 	identification of additional problems.
- 	Monitor student academic progress through weekly progress reports or referral to ancillary support 	services for tutoring.
- 	_**Attend District Coordination Meetings and training**_
- Revised 09‐17‐03