Addressing School Attendance in the Middle Circuit

1. Addressing School Attendance in the Middle Circuit Judge Tom C. Rawlings Judge, Juvenile Courts Middle Judicial Circuit Sandersville, GA (478) 553-0012 tom@sandersville.net

2. Georgia’s Middle Judicial Circuit • Five “Persistent Poverty” Counties in East Central Georgia • Poverty rates > 20% over a 40-year period • Not within any Metropolitan Statistical Area • 2,300 square miles with 100,000 residents

3. Why do students miss school? • Parenting Issues • Domestic violence • Abuse/Neglect • Substance abuse • Child in control • “School’s not important” • Mental Health Issues • A Need for services (student having to work to provide for family members) • Sick Parent/Grandparent • Lack of Food/Clothing • Because students are absent for a variety of reasons, these issues must be addressed in a team approach by teachers, counselors and social workers.

4. "Truancy is our first best flag that a kid will enter the juvenile justice system." --Ken Seeley, who is studying the effectiveness of seven truancy-reduction programs for the U.S. Justice Department. Why Worry About Truancy?

5. History of Our Truancy Project

6. History of Our Truancy Project • BASIC IDEA: ADDRESS TRUANCY WITH A TEAM APPROACH USING RESOURCES OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, THE COURT, DJJ, DFCS, MENTAL HEALTH, AND OTHER AGENCIES • 2002-2003: Began Attendance Protocol • 2003-2004: 2nd year Fewer Unexcused Absences More Excuses Turned In To School • 2004-2005: Added Tardy/Early Release Protocol

7. 2004-2005 Attendance Protocol(Emanuel County) • 1-5 Unexcused Absences: Teacher Intervention: Phone/Notes • 5 Unexcused Absences: Counselor Intervention: Phone/Letters/ SST/IEP/Agency Referral • 7 Unexcused Absences: Social Worker Intervention Truancy Court Referral

8. Tardy/Early Check-Out Protocol 3 Unexcused Tardies or Early Check-Outs Or any combination of the two would be equivalent to “One Unexcused Absence”.

9. Public Relations is Key • Beginning of school year: run newspaper articles, television and radio spots reminding parents and children of the truancy court and of the schools’ new policies on attendance • Beginning of school year: “Cattle Call” Truancy Calendar with all “problem” students from prior year. Covered by local paper and radio. • Throughout school year: Judge, DA, DJJ workers, etc. speak to students and parents at school assemblies about the potential penalties for absenteeism.

10. Truancy Court Procedure Referred to Truancy Court DJJ sends “invitation” Court makes preliminary determination and addresses issue Shows No Shows Child 12 or Older: Child At Fault? Court makes preliminary determination: Summons filed or divert Child Under 11 or 12: Parental Fault?

11. Interventions: Preliminary • Verbal Warning • Warning Letter • Holding Complaint in Abeyance

12. Interventions: Parental Fault • DFCS Referral • Protective Order • Parenting Classes • Family Connections (counseling) • Community Resources • Fines • Incarceration (2nd & 3rd offenses) • Care Partners Referral (Intensive Family Intervention Program)

13. Interventions: Child at Fault • DJJ Referral • Informal Adjustment (DJJ) • Care Partners Referral (Intensive Family Intervention Program • Saturday School • Mental Health Services • Sunshine House CAC Referral • Referral to other Community Resources • Court Order to Ride Bus • Probation • Community Service • (Last Resort) Detention

14. Interventions: “No-Fault” • Medical Problems • Involve School Nurse • Check with Doctors • Can Medicines or Treatment Be Given at School? • Is Hospital Homebound Necessary? • Do Special Arrangements Need to Be Made? • Improving Communication Between School and Family

15. Tightening the Vise • If Parent continues to be responsible for child’s failure to attend or tardiness, • Citation for Contempt issued. • Parent brought before Court and • Fined • Jailed • Ordered to Do Community Service • Ordered to Take Parenting Classes • Child Placed in Foster Care • Last Resort: Referral to State Court

16. Tightening the Vise • If Child continues to be responsible for child’s failure to attend or tardiness, • Petition Filed • Child Placed on Probation and: • Community Service Ordered • Other Obligations Ordered • Privileges Taken Away • Repeat Violations = Stronger Measures • Last Resort: Detention

17. EMANUEL COUNTY SCHOOLS DATA • 2003-2004: (Still using 2002-2003 Protocol. No tardy/check-out protocol) • Tracked: 114 • Referred to Juvenile Court: 106 • 2nd Appearance: 2 • 3rd Appearance: 1 • Protective Orders: 25 • Child Protective Services Referral: 28 • Informal Adjustment (DJJ): 34 • Parent Incarcerated: 2 • Student Detained: 1 (violation of probation) • Withdrew/X-fer Adult Ed/Home School/Other Systems: 13 • Referral to Care Partners/Ogeechee Mental Health C & A Services: 6

18. EMANUEL COUNTY SCHOOLS DATA • 2004-2005 • Tracked: 168 • Referred to Juvenile Court: 133 • 2nd Appearance: 3 • 3rd Appearance: 1 • Parenting Classes: 8 • Protective Orders: 80 • DFCS Referrals: 16 • Probation/Informal Adj: 43 • Parent Incarcerated: 3

19. Bottom Line: What does the Juvenile Court Bring to the Table? • The Teddy Roosevelt Factor • The Bully Pulpit • Walk Softly and Carry a Big Stick • Fear and Loathing in _________. • Parents Fear DFCS, and Children Fear DJJ, and they All Fear the Court • “Don’t Make Me Stop this Car!” • Never Underestimate the Power of a Bluff • Real Pain for a Few Examples • Missed Work, Missed Activities, Stress and Trouble