CLEAR CREEK ISD

HB 2398 ADDRESSES HB 2398 ADDRESSES Compulsory Attendance, defining truant conduct Clarifies attendance officer duties Mandates district truancy prevention measures (TPM) Application of TPMs Court referrals, documentation, and processes Truancy prevention facilitator

HB 2398 has resulted in changes to the 2015–2016 STUDENT ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING HANDBOOK 2015–2016 STUDENT ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING HANDBOOK 2015–2016 STUDENT ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING HANDBOOK

HB 2398 HAS REMOVED TEC SECTION FAILURE TO ATTEND SCHOOL This means that a student who is absent from school for 10 or more days or parts of days within a six-month period cannot be referred to court for criminal prosecution of the offense of failure to attend school.

COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE age 6 to are required to attend school truant conduct applies to students older than 12 and younger than 19 “tardies” generally are not considered absences for purposes of compulsory attendance enforcement.

Administrators, special program staff, teachers, and attendance personnel must be aware of their individual responsibilities and must work together to assemble required documentation as early as possible.

WHY DOES ATTENDANCE MATTER?

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES PER CCISD STUDENT HANDBOOK Absences for any reason the principal does not consider acceptable Absence without parent permission is unexcused and is considered truancy

CONSIDERED PRESENT FOR FSP (FUNDING) dual credit program dual credit program enrolled full-time in TxVSN courses enrolled full-time in TxVSN courses participating in activities approved by the local school board participating in activities approved by the local school board Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) or the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI) or the Texas School for the Deaf (TSD) misses school for the purpose of observing religious holy days misses school for the purpose of observing religious holy days sounding “Taps” at a military honors funeral sounding “Taps” at a military honors funeral attending a required court appearance attending a required court appearance is participating in a mentorship approved by district personnel is participating in a mentorship approved by district personnel

3 OR MORE UNEXCUSED ABSENCES WITHIN A 4-WEEK PERIOD

You must inform student's parent/guardian of: 1.The student’s absence; 2.The parent’s duty to monitor the student’s school attendance and require the student to attend school; 3.That the student is subject to truancy prevention measures *Document this request

Parent requested conference Administrator request a conference for students receiving special education services Notify the Special Education Team Leader Team LeaderTeam Leader

CONFERENCE PURPOSE Determine cause of excessive absences Complete the Attendance Contract Agreement Consider truancy prevention measures (TPM’s)

SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING TRUANCY SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITIES REGARDING TRUANCY Linked to Disability Not Linked to Disability General Guidelines

Communicate with student/guardian May not refer to truancy court Document efforts in an SST, 504, ARD *Offer additional counseling If the Student is: (1) Pregnant; (2) in a state foster program; (3) homeless; or (4) the principal income earner for the family

CCISD REGULATION FEC Attendance: Attendance for Credit/Final Grade The District may initiate withdrawal of a student for nonattendance under the following conditions: 1. The student has been absent 20 consecutive school days. 2. Repeated efforts by the attendance officer and/or principal to locate the student have been unsuccessful.

A district may withdraw students Years of Age or Older With more than 5 unexcused absences in a semester With more than 5 unexcused absences in a semester Is considered a dropout for accountability purposes Is considered a dropout for accountability purposes Does not override the district responsibility to provide FAPE for student eligible for special education services Does not override the district responsibility to provide FAPE for student eligible for special education services

AFTER 5 UNEXCUSED ABSENCES WITHIN A SEMESTER: SCHEDULE A 504/ARD STAFFING TRUANCY PREVENTION MEASURES MAY BE NECESSARY

The truancy prevention measures (TPMs) must be implemented by a truancy prevention facilitator, a juvenile case manager, a special services case manager, or a designated existing employee of the school district.

TRUANCY PREVENTION MEASURES (TPM) School districts must provide at least one of the following truancy prevention measures Truancy “Behavior Plan” Referral for services School- based community service

“TRUANCY BEHAVIOR PLAN” Must include: A specific description of the behavior required or prohibited Effective dates of the plan Positive/Negative consequences for additional absences

“SCHOOL-BASED COMMUNITY SERVICE”

REFERRAL FOR SERVICES Counseling* Mediation Mentoring Teen court program Community-based services In-school or out-of-school services

SERVICES/RESOURCES Communities in Schools RESOLVE-ITRESOLVE-IT (Galveston County) TRIAD (Harris County) Interfaith Caring Ministries Bay Area Turning Point Anchor Point Youth & Service Directory-Galveston Outside counseling*

10 OR MORE FULL/PARTIAL ABSENCES WITHIN A 6 TH MONTH PERIOD Communicate with student/ guardian Go to SST Review and update the TPM plan May refer to truancy court if parent documented neglect Student in General Education

10 OR MORE FULL/PARTIAL ABSENCES WITHIN A SEMESTER Communicate with student/ guardian Gather additional information/data about the student’s absences Convene a 504/ARD Determine is the absences are direct and causal to the student’s disability? As a committee, determine appropriate accommodations and/or if evaluation is warranted Student receiving Special Services (504, Special Education)

SCHOOL DISTRICT MAY REFER THE STUDENT TO TRUANCY COURT FOR TRUANT CONDUCT

REFLECTION What practices are you going to change in regards to students receiving special services?

REVIEW Conference Meeting Scheduled Meet, Review, Create

QUESTIONS? CONTACT SPECIAL SERVICES CYNTHIA PELTIER:

THANK YOU!

REFERENCE Attendance Matters. [Graphic] Retrieved from 209/Image/Attendance%20Matters%20logo.png 209/Image/Attendance%20Matters%20logo.png AJ Katzenmaier School. (n.d.). Attendance Matters Logo. [Image} Retrieved from x475.png Clear Creek ISD. (2015) Student/Parent Handbook. Retrieved from %20Legal%20Affairs/ student-handbook---final-8-7-am.pdf Stonestreet, J. (2014). School Attendance Does Matter. [Video]. Retrieved from Texas Education Agency. (n.d.). Texas Education Code § : Failure to Attend School. Retrieved from O’Pry, C., Branch, R., and Haddock, J.D. (2015). Clear Creek ISD: Employee Handbook. Retrieved from: Region 10. (n.d.). Are there any additional considerations is a student is truant? Retrieved from: