Waco Independent School District
501 Franklin Avenue ● Waco TX 76701
254-755-9473
DIVERSION COURSE
For Students & their Parent/Guardian
Purpose of Program:
Through the Waco ISD partnership with the Criminal Justice Division – Office of the Governor, our goal is:
to reduce the number of school citations and number of referrals to the Waco ISD DAEP.
This Diversion Course may be used:

by administrators as an option to suspension or placement at the DAEP,

by SRO’s as an alternative to citations, and

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:
1st Cohort Group: October 13 & 20, 2012
2nd Cohort Group:
3rd Cohort Group:
4th Cohort Group:
5th Cohort Group:
November 3 & 10, 2012
December, 1 & 8, 2012
January 5 & 12, 2013
February 2 & 9 2013
6th Cohort Group Feb 23 & March 2, 2013
7th Cohort Group April 6 & 13, 2013
8th Cohort Group May 4 & 11, 2013
Location:
Waco ISD Administration Building @ 115 South 5th Street, Conference Center
Times:
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 day 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, highpressure 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 day 2, 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 that
helps parents find and access resources to meet the needs they identify through the course.
Contact:
Charlene Hamilton
Grant Project Specialist, Suspend Kids to School
254-750-3539
chamilton@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
DIVERSION COURSE
Student & Parent/Guardian Contract
Dear Parent,
Your child’s education and future is very important to Waco ISD and to you. Receiving an education helps in the
following ways:
 overall success and well-being of your child
 provides sense of accomplishment
 helps your child compete with others for jobs
 benefit from instruction AND 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
 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 attend each and every school class regularly and on time
 Student must complete all school work assigned
 Student must obey the Waco ISD Student Code of Conduct; have no behavioral issues, written referrals,
In-School 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
Signature
Grade
Date
Signature
Date
School
Home Address
City
PEIMS LOCAL CODE: ____________________
Home Phone #
Cell Ph #
Zip
Location: Waco ISD Administration Building @ 115 South 5th Street, Conference Center
Diversion Course Dates:
1st Cohort Group: October 13 & 20, 2012
6th Cohort Group Feb 23 & March 2, 2013
2nd Cohort Group:
3rd Cohort Group:
4th Cohort Group:
5th Cohort Group:
November 3 & 10, 2012
December, 1 & 8, 2012
January 5 & 12, 2013
February 2 & 9 2013
7th Cohort Group April 6 & 13, 2013
8th Cohort Group May 4 & 11, 2013
“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
“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