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.