PUTNAM COUNTY SCHOOLS
TRUANCY
DIVERSION
PROGRAM
2015-2016
TRUANCY DIVERSION PROCESS
Putnam County’s Truancy Diversion Program was initiated during the 2009-2010 school
year, with the addition of a School Based Probation Officer (SBPO) during the 2012-2013
school year. Putnam County has a great Truancy Diversion Program, set up with the
intention of helping students succeed.
Diversion Team Members:
Magistrate Linda Hunt
Sara Whitney, Investigator- Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
Danielle Gillispie, Coordinator of Drug Abuse Prevention-PCS
Alyson Crouch, SBPO- Supreme Court/ PCS
Elizabeth Kennedy, CPS Supervisor Putnam County DHHR
Jennifer Hodges, Attendance Director- PCS
TRUANCY DIVERSION PROCESS
• Truancy complaints (Students who have missed more than 10 unexcused days) are
sent to the Magistrate’s office, where they are evaluated by the SBPO, Prosecutor’s
Office, and Magistrate Hunt. The complaints that are accepted for Truancy Diversion
are then scheduled for Truancy Diversion meetings. Meetings are typically
once/twice per month at the Diversion level.
• When the student and family attend the Truancy Diversion meeting, all of the team
members evaluate each INDIVIDUAL situation to help assess and determine any
needs the student might have.
TRUANCY DIVERSION PROCESS
After evaluating the individual needs of the child and family, the
following steps can be taken:
• Self-Improvement Referral/ Monitor
• DHHR Referral for Services
• Truancy Diversion Contract
• Prosecutor Referral for Circuit Court Petition
Self-Improvement Referral/
Monitor
DHHR Referral for Services
Truancy Diversion Contract
Terms and Conditions monitored by SBPO, including the
following:
• No further unexcused absences
• Satisfactory academic progress
• No use or possession of any alcoholic beverages, controlled or other intoxicating
substances, or tobacco products
• Random drug testing
• Home and school visits by SBPO
• Comply with DHHR and/or YRC services when directed
• The SBPO has the ability to review and access the student’s cell phone and social
media
Prosecutor Referral for Circuit
Court Petition
ZOOM WV DATA
Dropout Rate Trend for Putnam CountyNumber of Dropouts has decreased approximately 70% between 2011 and 2015
ZOOM WV DATA
Graduation Rate Trend for Putnam County
• Approximately 10% increase in 4 year graduates
• Nearly 4% increase in 5 year graduates
• Percentage of 4 year graduates surpassed 5 year graduates- more students
graduating ON TIME!
PUTNAM COUNTY TRUANCY REFERRALS
2005-2015
400
350
300
250
200
150
Truancy Referrals
100
50
0
2005-2006
2006-2007
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010
2010-2011
2011-2012
2012-2013
2014-2015
DATA ISSUES/CONCERNS
The change in data measurements between the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years
makes it difficult to form a cohesive opinion of how the program has worked the past few
years based on Attendance percentages alone. For example, our Attendance rates dropped
from 98% in 2013-2014 to 94.3% in 2014-2015, due to attendance reports no longer
including “non-deduct for accountability” flag. It will take a few years of the new attendance
standards to develop a true determination of how the attendance rates are affected by the
truancy diversion program.
The change in truancy laws (from 5 days to 10 days unexcused) this year has also lowered
the number of students we are able to help with our truancy diversion program.