Waco Independent School District
501 Franklin Avenue ● Waco TX 76701
254-755-9473
SATURDAY DIVERSION COURSE
Contract for Students & Parent/Guardian
Purpose of Program:
Through the Waco ISD partnership with the Criminal Justice Division – Office of the Governor, the goal is:
To reduce the number of referrals to the Waco ISD DAEP, reduce student out of school suspensions, and modify
student behaviors.
This Diversion Course may be used:

by administrators as an option to suspension or placement at the DAEP

by PCL’s as alternative to Truancy Court

by judges as a sentencing alternative to increase the likelihood of students staying out of the juvenile justice system.
The Diversion Course is intended as a Diversion away from court, entering the Juvenile Justice System, paying court fines of
$500 or more, or having to leave work for court hearings or deferred disposition, etc. Information learned during the Diversion
Course equips participating students and parent/guardians with necessary skills to communicate more effectively and build
more supportive relationships with one another.

Students will learn pro-social alternatives to their current behaviors and understand the long-term consequences of
continued school disruptions and/or truancies.

Parents will learn strategies for supporting their children and learn to meet their developmental needs in healthy and
pro-social ways, based on trust and mutual respect.
Format:
Cohort group of students will attend two (2) Saturday sessions of 6 contact hours each, 12 total hours.

Students and same Parent/Guardian must stay entire session and attend both sessions

Students attend one track, Parent/Guardians attend a parallel track

Certificate will be provided upon completion of course for proof of attendance

Attendance in Diversion Class does NOT count for “Saturday School” to regain credits
Dates:
North Waco Annex
Nov
8th & 15th - cohort 1
Dec
6th & 13th - cohort 2
Times:
Administration Building
Jan
10th - cohort 3 begins
24th - cohort 3 ends 4 begins
Feb
7th - cohort 4 ends 5 begins
21st - cohort 5 ends 6 begins
Mar
21st - cohort 6 ends 7 begins
28th - cohort 7 ends 8 begins
Apr
May
11th - cohort 8 ends
25th - cohort 9 ends 10 begins
9th - cohort 10 ends 11 begins
16th - cohort 11 ends
8:30 am to 3:30 pm (participants must stay for entire session to receive credit)
30 minute break for lunch
Course Objectives:
Cohort group of students and same parent/guardian will attend 2 Saturday sessions. The Diversion Course will
have two parallel tracks: one for students and one for parents, with qualified trainers for each track.
Over the two Saturday course, students will learn strategies to communicate more effectively with others,
understand impulse control and anger management, and practice skills needed to make better choices in stressful,
high-pressure situations. They will also identify their post-secondary interests and strengths and understand how
to achieve their career path goals. While the students are learning, their Parent/ Guardians will be presented
information about adolescent development; gain skills in communicating, problem-solving, and discipline; and have
time to discuss ideas with other parents and gain support.
A Community Resource panel will be available on second Saturday, to provide information on their available
services in a number of areas (housing, food, clothing, medical/dental services, etc.). A resource guide will be
available to help parents find and access resources to meet the needs they identify through the course.
Contact:
Hannah Kuhl
Social Worker
254-745-2268
Hannah.kuhl@wacoisd.org
Alfonso Saldaña
Supervisor Student Management
254-710-9221
alfonso.saldana@wacoisd.org
“Suspend Kids to School” Grant Program
Partnership between: WACO ISD & the Criminal Justice Division – Office of the Governor
Diversion Class Program developed by: Waco ISD & Community Matters
Waco Independent School District
501 Franklin Avenue ● Waco TX 76701
254-755-9473
SATURDAY DIVERSION COURSE
Contract for Students & Parent/Guardian
Dear Parent,
Your child’s education is very important to Waco ISD and to you. Receiving an education helps in the following way
**overall success and well-being of your child
**helps your child compete with others for jobs
**provides sense of accomplishment
**benefit from instruction & structure that school provides daily
Educational benefits are so great for an individual, that there are laws to ensure that schools and parents make
sure students are attending daily. The Compulsory Attendance Law (Section 25.093 and 25.094 Texas
Education Code) says that students must attend at least 90% of the days class is offered. If students do not
attend, parents may be prosecuted in a justice court of any precinct in McLennan County.
Waco ISD is committed to ensuring that you and your child understand the importance and benefits to be gained
from daily, on-time attendance and appropriate behaviors in the school setting. Through a partnership with the
Department of Criminal Justice – Governor’s Office, we are offering a course designed to divert your child away
from the criminal justice system because of behavior/ attendance issues. This DIVERSION COURSE is an option
for you and your student to avoid paying court fines and/or court costs up to $500 of each court violation, and avoid
entering the criminal justice system.
To attend the Diversion Course, you agree to the following:
 Student and same Parent/ Guardian attend both sessions of the next Diversion class offered
 Arrive on time and stay for the entire session (8:30 am – 3:30 pm)
 Bring lunch for student and parent (Optional) You may chose to leave the building for lunch.
 Students leave cell phones with parent/guardian during the class
Between now and both scheduled Diversion Course Sessions, you agree to the following:
 Student must meet with the campus Diversion Intern over their 30 min lunch period on 4 occasions for a
total of 2.0 hours to prepare for and review Saturday Diversion class. Bring a sack lunch or lunch from the
cafeteria. Snacks and drinks will be provided when possible.
 Student must attend each school class regularly and on time.
 Students must complete ALL school work assigned.
 Student must obey the Waco ISD Student Code of Conduct; have no behavioral issues, written referrals, InSchool Suspensions, Out-of-School Suspensions, or expulsions
Additional Information:
Certificate will be provided upon completion of course for proof of attendance.
Attendance in Diversion Class does NOT count for “Saturday School” to regain credits.
I agree to the above conditions and would like to attend the Waco ISD DIVERSION COURSE.
Student: Print Name
Parent/ Guardian: Print Name
School
Student ID
Home address
Zip code
Age
Grade
Home phone#
Cell phone #
Signature
Date
Signature
CLASS DATE:
REFERRAL REASON:
INCIDENT NUMBER:
“Suspend Kids to School” Grant Program
Partnership between: WACO ISD & the Criminal Justice Division – Office of the Governor
Diversion Class Program developed by: Waco ISD & Community Matters
Date