Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools San Diego County Office of Education Student Attendance, Safety & Well-Being SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REVIEW BOARD Chronic Absenteeism & Dropout Prevention Summit 2012 2013 Presented By: Bob Mueller Director, Student Attendance, Safety & Well-Being Phone: (858) 292-3786 • Fax: (858) 571-8531 Email: bmueller@sdcoe.net 1 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools TOPIC TIME SPEAKER 8:30 SARB Process Overview 8:35 Bob Mueller, Director Student Attendance, Safety & Well-Being Truancy Diversion Court 8:55 Cyndi Jo Means Deputy District Attorney Break 10:10 Reducing Chronic Absenteeism 10:20 Lisa Butler, Student Placement Manager Chula Vista Elementary School District Multi-Systems Approach 10:45 Jeni Mendel, Coordinator - CWA Grossmont Union High School District TIME Program 11:10 Maria Osborn, Intervention Specialist Escondido Union School District State SARB Update 11:40 Steve Fraire State SARB Representative Closing Remarks 12:00 The Honorable Judge Browder Willis Superior Court of San Diego AGENDA Welcome 2 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools COMPULSORY EDUCATION • Education Code 48200 • Requires Fulltime Education • 6th Birthday until • 18th Birthday 3 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools SARB HISTORY In 1973 the Legislature Separated 601 & 602 Violations in Welfare & Institution Code. 4 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE • Juvenile 601 Status Offenders – Four Low Level Violations • Running Away • Incorrigible • Curfew • Truancy • Juvenile 602 – All Other Violations • HIGH LEVEL 5 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools SHIFT OF FOCUS In 1974 the state legislature establishes in the Education Code a system of interventions for students with persistent attendance and behavior problems at school. 6 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools THE LAWS EC 48200 Compulsory School Attendance EC 48260 Definition of a Truant EC 48260.5 First Notice of Truancy Requirements EC 48261 Second Notice of Truancy EC 48262 Habitual Truant: Third Notice EC 48263 Referral to SARB • Habitual Truant, or • Irregular Attendance. 7 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools TWO RECENT LAWS EC 60901(c)(1) Chronic Absentee Absent 10% or more of school days in one year, from date to enrollment to current date, for any reason. EC 48260(a) Chronic Truant Absent without a valid excuse, 10% or more of school days in one year, from the date of enrollment to current date, 8 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools TRUANT DEFINED: EC 48260(a) • Any pupil subject to compulsory education – absent without a valid excuse three full days – or tardy or absent more than 30 minutes without a valid excuse • Three occasions in one school year – In any combination thereof • Shall be reported – to the attendance supervisor or the superintendent of the school district. 9 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools COUNTING TRUANCIES FIRST NOTIFICATION OF TRUANCY Any Combination of items listed below. 3{ Full Day Unexcused Absence Tardy to School 31+ Minutes Absent Unexcused 31+ Minutes First Notice of Truancy Include Required Language (EC 48260.5) 10 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools REQUIRED LANGUAGE Initial notice must include: (See Page 14.) (a) Pupil is a truant. (b) Parent is obligated to compel. (c) Parents may be subject to prosecution. (d) Alternative ed. programs are available. (e) Right to meet to discuss solutions. (f) Pupil may be subject to prosecution. (g) Pupil’s driving privileges at risk. (h) Recommended parent attend a full day. 11 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools SARB MATH: 3 + 1 = 2 2nd NOTIFICATION OF TRUANCY Just Need One of the Items Listed Below 1{ Full Day Unexcused Absence Tardy to School 31+ Minutes Absent Unexcused 31+ Minutes nd 2 Notice of Truancy EC 48261 12 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools HABITUAL TRUANT: EC 48262 • Reported truant 3 or more times in school year. Before Student Can Be Classified Habitual Truant • Notification(s) of Truancy sent. • Conscientious effort made to hold at least one conference with parent and pupil. • Conscientious Effort: – – – – communication with parent attempted at least once. most cost-effective method possible is okay. electronic mail or telephone call permitted. Document, document, document. 13 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools LOOKS LIKE A PATTERN NOTICE OF HABITUAL TRUANCY First Notice of Truancy (3 occasions) Second Notice of Truancy (1 occasions) Parent Conference (Conscientious Effort) Late or Absent 31+ Min. Unexcused Notice of Habitual Truancy 14 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools SARB & Truancy Diversion Court Referral Process Interventions Attempted Between Truancy Notice & SART Before SARB School sends letter #1 for truancy (3 days or more) or insubordination School sends letter #2 after next truancy or insubordination School sends letter #3 after any additional truancy or insubordination School notifies SARB chair by completing SARB referral form SARB chair schedules student for SARB and sends registered mail notification to parents NOTE: If student on IEP, an IEP meeting must be held before placement in Alt. Ed. SARB Hearing & Contract Refer to other agency: counseling, substance abuse, probation, CPS Refer to district Independent Study program Refer to district alternative education program Contract Violation – See DA Filing Criteria. If appropriate, prepare packet & submit to district SARB Chair for Review. SARB Chair Submits Packet for DA Review DA Selects Cases for Court & Notifies Districts Refer to JCCS Programs For More Information Contact: Bob Mueller Director, Student Attendance, Safety & Well-Being San Diego County Office of Education 15 (858) 292-3786 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools 601 Court Truancy Diversion Court SARB S.A.R.B. PYRAMID Hearing & Contract SART Meeting & Written Agreement 3rd Notice: Habitual Truant DOCUMENTED INTERVENTION 2nd Notice of Truancy DOCUMENTED INTERVENTION 1st Notice w/ EC 48260 Required Language 16 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools FRATERNAL TWINS SART SARB – Site Level – Smaller – Less Formal – Problem Solving – Agreement – District Level – EC 48263 – Formal Hearing & Tone – Contract 17 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM (Potential Members) SART Site Level Chair Administrator Counselor School Nurse Resource Personnel Classroom Teacher Law Enforcement County Probation SARB District Level Chair School Nurse Grade Level Reps District Child Welfare & (Elementary, Attendance Admin. Middle, & High.) Community Agencies Special Ed. Rep. Law Enforcement Alt. Ed. Rep. Probation Administrator CPS Counselor CalWorks Rep. School Other Psychologist 18 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools EARLY WARNING SIGNS Truancy often develops out of poor attendance patterns in early grade levels. Soft Truancy & Chronic Absenteeism frequently signals potential for school dropout! 19 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools WHAT SCHOOLS CAN DO • Address the lack of connectedness kids feel within school. – CHKS Data – What percentage of kids believe an adult in the school genuinely cares about them? • Support kids during transitions. • Interventions to re-engage students in schooling. – “We Care About You Too Much to Let You Fail.” – National Center for School Engagement – http://www.schoolengagement.org/ 20 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools Sample Student Assistance Menu of Services for Referral Assessment Services • School Services • Special Needs - Psychological - Emotional - Intellectual - Health screening/ Healthy Start - English Language Proficiency Issues • Outside Assessments - Alcoholism & Other Addictions - Psychological - Physical Other Intervention Services (Team Processes) • • • • • • • • Formal Intervention Student Study Team Section 504 Team School Attendance Review Team (SART) School Attendance Review Board (SARB) Crisis Intervention Team Other Truancy Mediation Programs Student Court Disciplinary Options • Partial Schedules • Alternative Scheduling • Saturday/Evening Schools • In-School Suspension • Suspension • Involuntary transfer to Continuation School • Suspended Expulsion • Expulsion • Probation Referral • Court Referral • Law Enforcement 21 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools Sample Student Assistance Menu of Services for Referral (continued) Educational (Skills) Component • Insight - Attention Deficit Disorder Courses - “Why Try” Program Integrated Support Services Positive Activities • School Counseling • Counseling Groups • Crisis Debriefing • Friday Night Live Clubs • Club Live Clubs • Youth to Youth • Crisis Safe Rooms • Friday Night Live Kids • Student Support Groups • Rites of Passage • Twelve-Step Groups • Ropes or “Survival” Courses • Graffiti Clean-up Projects - Self Injury prevention/intervention • Peer Resource Services (examples) - assistance - listening - tutoring - buddy systems - adult mentorship - Reading/Math Intervention • Community Agency • Community-Based Youth - Crisis Intervention • Treatment/Support Groups - Suicide intervention • Parent/Family Support Groups - Alcohol and other drug use - Disease/Disability Management Courses - Coping Skills - Assertiveness Training - Conflict/Anger Management Training - Bullying Intervention Courses - Teen Parenting Classes - Reading Recovery - Mini-Town/Anytown Retreats/ Cultural Sensitivity/Acceptance/ Celebration courses • Restorative Justice Programs • Community Service • Midnight Basketball • Personal Best Physical Fit1ness • Development Activities • Healthy Start • Adult Mentorship 22 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools DROPOUT PREVENTION Kids NEVER Dropout of School All at Once. The SARB Process Provides a They Just Fade Away… Framework for Effective Dropout Prevention. 23 Pupil Services Student Support/ Safe Services Schools CONTACT INFORMATION Bob Mueller Director Student Attendance, Safety & Well-Being Student Support Services San Diego County Office of Education (858) 292-3786 bmueller@sdcoe.net 24