Bakersfield City School District

1. Bakersfield City School District Attendance Enhancement and Truancy Reduction: Department of Student Services September 2004

2. Logistics/Materials • 90 minutes without break • Book: Attendance Enhancement Process • Handouts • Section Presentations • Questions • Outcomes

3. The Team • School site staff • Steve Castro • Erin Johnston • Vikki Del Pellegrino • Greg Bianchi • Elaine Wilson • Eric Kramer • Steve Horst

4. California’s Mandatory Attendance Laws • Every person 6 to 18 years of age not legally exempted must attend public school full-time(Education Code Section 48200, BP 602.13) (emphasis added) • “Full” school day (The Governing Board shall fix the length of the school day subject to the provisions of law (Education Code Section 46100, BP 400.8) • Excused and unexcused absences (e.g., Health reasons, family emergencies, justifiable personal reasons [Education Code Section 46010, 48216, 48205; BP 602.6]) • Exemptions from attendance (e.g. private school, private tutor, work permit [Education Code Section 48222 – 48225, 48230, 48231; BP 605.4})

5. Three (3) unexcused school absences OR Tardy/absent in excess of more than any 30 minute period on each of three days OR Any combination of the previous Truancy Defined

6. Outcomes of Chronic Truancy • Reduced opportunities to learn/academic performance • Interference with social development • Increased risk of child abuse and neglect • Increase in community crimes/delinquency • At risk for dropping out of school • Substance abuse, including early onset of • Stress on the child and family • Higher rates of emotional problems later in life • Later risk for joblessness and poverty (Berg & Jackson, 1985; King et al, 1995; Kortering et al., 1997)

7. Why Children Might Have Severe and Chronic Attendance Problems • Student (e.g., separation, social, & avoidance anxiety; depression; victimization; juvenile delinquency) • Medical(e.g., somatic complaints with or without presence of medical condition) • Family (e.g., family pathology - anxious/depressed parent uses student as a support person; substance abuse; student required to work; cover up child abuse/neglect) • School(e.g., poor teacher-student relationships; academic difficulties; school climate, bullying) (Bernstein & Garfinkel, 1986, 1988; Bernstein et. al. 1997; Last, Francis, Hersen, Kazdin, & Strauss, 1987; Kearney, 2001; King et al., 1995; Last & Strauss, 1990)

8. Importance of School Intervention Team (SIT), Referrals, & Outreach Efforts • Identify and assess the problem(s), analyze the data, and plan intervention • Document efforts to help

9. Strategies to Address Truancy • School environment design/school climate • Incentive programs • Goal and expectancy setting • Notices/education • Problem identification and analysis (Understanding reasons for truancy) • SIT • Health and mental health services • Restructuring consequences • Attendance enhancement process • Other

10. School Attendance Review Board (SARB), Law Enforcement & Deputy District Attorney Partners “Some children with emotionally-based school refusal have been referred to the courts for truancy. The pressure resulting from the court referral was often helpful in getting the child in for an evaluation” (Bernstein and Garfinkel, 1986).

11. Web Site Resources Student Services Web Site

12. Can making and sending truancy letters be made any easier? Terry Pritchard, Information Technology Department

13. Presentations Continue

14. Gather data from district electronic attendance database Records of student attendance Records of students receiving services 40 School days before and after service General Method to Evaluate Services

18. Discussion of Results

19. Greg Bianchi • Kern County District Attorney’s Office

20. What Happens When a Student is Identified as a Truant? The Attendance Enhancement Process begins…

21. Each Step Escalates the Seriousness of the Consequences: • Letter #1 - Classification as Truant Letter Only • Letter #2 - Second Classification as Truant Letter & Meeting with School Representative

22. Step #3 – Classification as an Habitual Truant Critical Step in the Process Community service

23. When does a Student become a Habitual Truant? “Habitual Truant” is: Any pupil is deemed an habitual truant who has been reported as a truant three or more times per school year’ plus An appropriate school employee has made a conscientious effort to hold at least one conference with a parent or guardian of the pupil and the pupil himself/herself. (California Education Code Section 48262)

24. Habitual Truant (3 + 1 +1) + Conscientious Effort

25. Why is “Habitual Truant” Status Important? Once a student is classified as an “Habitual Truant” the parents and student becomesubject to the jurisdiction of the courts.

26. Elaine Wilson • Attendance CoordinatorBakersfield City School District

27. Program Improvement Schools • Parent/Student Contact at District Office Prior to SARB • 176 Meetings Scheduled, 102 Attended • 90% of students who attended, required no further intervention.

28. SARB Referral Packet • Attendance CoordinatorProgram Improvement Schools • SARB

29. Vikki Del PellegrinoDeputy District Attorney1-4651

30. SIT’s and Home Visits • A DDA may attend a SIT. • A DDA can notify a parent in writing of the DDA’s presence at the SIT. See handbook. • If Truancy letters have been mailed a DDA may make a home visit.

31. DA Orientation Meeting • The Goal is Prevention with a Positive Message • Two Letters in Handbook • Orientation 1 – “…”your child has an excessive number of unexcused absences…” • Orientation 2 … “Staff in the BSCD are concerned with school attendance….” • See handbook for complete letters

32. DA Orientations • Scheduled at the end of the school day if possible. • May be scheduled in the evening. • DA will arrange for Law Enforcement presence. • Power Point Presentation can be accessed in BCSD Web site, or by e-mail • Presentation Should be Reviewed by Responsible Staff Member prior to Date

33. The School Should… • Route an Alphabetized List of Student/SID’s • Have the PP on computer and ready to go • Arrange for Microphone(s) for Speaker(s) • Have at Least One School Representative Present • Have an Interpreter Present and Prepared • Supply Pens and Pencils for Parents to use • Have Adequate Copies of Sign in Sheets • Have Adequate Copies of Agreements • See Handbook

34. In Addition to your Individual School Site Meeting: • Parents/Students may Attend meetings at other School Sites • Parents/Students may attend any one of Three Meetings at the Education Center • Check with Student Services for upcoming dates

35. DA Involvement in SARB • Non Punitive; The Goal is Prevention • A Citation will NOT be issued at SARB to any parent who attends • Parents who fail to attend will be issued a notice by DA to attend a DA Mediation at THE DA’s office

36. DA Mediation • The Goal is Prevention • Parents/students notified of “…the right to remain silent…” • Root causes of truancy discussed • Plan for rehabilitation formulated • Agreement document signed

37. The Citation Process • A Citation is issued only if: • There is no improvement after SARB • The Parent fails to attend the DA Mediation • There is no improvement after the DA Mediation

38. The Court Process • The Goal is Prevention • Parents ordered to attend Parent University or other Similar Program • Student ordered to Work Program or other positive resource

39. Continued Follow up • The School should notify DA of any student whose attendance does not improve after SARB • The DA will Monitor through Mediations and Court Hearings • The Courts will access and suggest methods of improved attendance

40. COLLABORATION • Working together = • Good Attendance = • Good Grades = • Success in School = • The ability to Make Life Choices = • Responsible, Crime Free Adults

41. THANK YOU!

42. Questions/Issues Central Team Upfront