School Attendance - Child Welfare & Attendance (CA Dept of ...

DEPAR NIA

CATION ST

TMENT OF EDU

ATE OF CALIFOR Publishing Information

The School Attendance Improvement Handbook was developed by the Safe Schools and Violence Prevention Office, California Department of Education, and was published by the Department, 721 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, California (mailing address: P.O. Box 944272, Sacramento, CA 94244-2720). It was distributed under the provisions of the Library Distribution Act and Government Code Section 11096.

? 2000 by the California Department of Education All rights reserved

ISBN 0-8011-1505-1

Ordering Information

Copies of this publication are available for $14.25 each, plus shipping and handling charges. California residents are charged sales tax. Orders may be sent to CDE Press, Sales Office, California Department of Education, P.O. Box 271, Sacramento, CA 95812-0271; fax (916) 323-0823. See the back of this book for complete information on payment, including credit card purchases, and an order blank. Prices on all publications are subject to change.

A partial list of educational resources available from the Department appears on pages 85-86. In addition, an illustrated Educational Resources Catalog describing publications, videos, and other instructional media available from the Department can be obtained without charge by writing to the address given above or by calling the Sales Office at (916) 445-1260.

Notice

The guidance in the School Attendance Improvement Handbook is not binding on local educational agencies or other entities. Except for the statutes, regulations, and court decisions that are referenced herein, the document is exemplary, and compliance with it is not mandatory. (See Education Code Section 33308.5.)

iii

Contents

Acknowledgments ...................................................................................................... v

Chapter One: The Importance of School Attendance .......................................... 1

A Framework for Understanding and Preventing Truancy .................................. 2

Prevention and Intervention Funding Sources..................................................... 8

Chapter Two: Truancy Prevention Programs ...................................................... 9

Keeping Students in School Makes Sense--SB 727 ........................................... 9

Components of a Comprehensive Truancy Prevention Strategy ....................... 10

Board Policies .............................................................................................. 10

School Norms .............................................................................................. 11

Signs ............................................................................................................ 12

Community Norms ...................................................................................... 13

Community Partners .................................................................................... 14

Parental Involvement--Level 1 ................................................................... 15

Extended Learning Opportunities ................................................................ 17

Preschool and Early Childhood Education .................................................. 18

Staff Development and Classroom Management ........................................ 18

Service Learning .......................................................................................... 19

After-School Programs ................................................................................ 20

Independent Study ....................................................................................... 22

Rewards, Incentives, and Recognition ........................................................ 22

Safe Schools, Safe Passages, and Positive School Climates ....................... 23

Conflict Resolution ...................................................................................... 24

Counseling and Guidance ............................................................................ 24

Pupil Empowerment .................................................................................... 25

Closed Campuses ......................................................................................... 25

Integrated Services Initiatives ..................................................................... 26

Comprehensive School Health System ........................................................ 27

Health Framework ...................................................................................... 27

iv Contents

California Healthy Start ............................................................................... 27

Family Resource Centers ............................................................................. 28

Drug and Alcohol Prevention Programs ...................................................... 28

Key Considerations for an Effective Attendance Program .......................... 28

Chapter Three: Early Intervention Programs and

the Value of Partnerships ................................................................................ 31

Student Study Teams and Student Success Teams ...................................... 32

Parental Involvement--Level 2 ................................................................... 33

Outreach Programs and Home Visits ........................................................... 33

Truancy Sweeps ........................................................................................... 35

School Resource Officers ............................................................................ 35

Mentoring and Tutoring Programs .............................................................. 37

Peer Helping and Conflict Management ..................................................... 38

The Alternative Education Option ............................................................... 39

School Attendance Review Boards .............................................................. 41

Chapter Four: Legal Intervention Tools ............................................................ 45

CalWORKS Program ........................................................................................ 46

Suspension and Expulsion Options ............................................................. 47

Parental Involvement--Level 3 ................................................................... 48

Community Service ..................................................................................... 49

Citation ........................................................................................................ 50

Vehicle Code ............................................................................................... 51

Daytime Curfew .......................................................................................... 51

Juvenile Court .............................................................................................. 52

Operation Stay in School ............................................................................. 52

Work Experience ......................................................................................... 53

District Attorney Mediation ......................................................................... 53

Alternative Education Placements ............................................................... 54

Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 56

Appendixes

A. Resources on School Attendance ................................................................. 57

B. California Code Sections Relating to School Attendance ........................... 64

C. Sample First, Second, and Third Truancy Letters Prior to SARB ............... 68

D. Sample Memorandum of Understanding Between Sacramento

County Department of Human Assistance and Sacramento City

Unified School District ................................................................................ 71

E. Sample Agreement for Deputy Probation Officer Services at District

Schools ........................................................................................................ 74

F. Truancy Ordinance (No. 862) of the City of Folsom .................................. 79

vv

Acknowledgments

The California Department of Education Safe Schools and Violence Prevention Office thanks the following people for their time and expertise in shaping this document: Sue Bennett, Administrator, Educational Options Unit, California Department of

Education Bob Burgess, Director of Student Services, San Leandro School District John Burton, Fontana Unified School District J. Peter Cahn, Coordinator of Special Projects, California Association of Directors

of Activities Madalyn Craviotto, Social Services Program Planner, County of Sacramento De-

partment of Human Assistance Sherrie Crow, Placer County Peer Court Coordinator Alan Del Simone, Administrator, Student Welfare and Attendance, West Contra

Costa Unified School District Leslie Fritz, Director of Education, California Parks and Recreation Society Rob Gerig, Director of Pupil Services, Sacramento City Unified School District John Gilroy, Field Representative, California Department of Education Karen Green, Placer County Peer Court Coordinator Marie Gutierrez, SARB Facilitator, Sacramento City Unified School District L. P. Hartzler, Consultant, Alternative Education, California Department of

Education Sharon Hicks, Community Liaison and Parent Adviser, Elder Creek Elementary

School District Ruth Holton, Principal, Stella Hills Elementary School District, Kern County Paul Huard, South Lake Tahoe Police Department Debbie Jeter, Deputy Director, San Luis Obispo County Department of Social

Services Jillian Barr Joncas, ERIC Counseling and Student Services Clearinghouse Tom Joynt, Director of Alternative and Adult Education, Petaluma City Elementary

School District

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download