Truancy Reset Policy: A Comprehensive Guide to School Attendance

Daily and punctual school attendance is essential to each student's academic development, and absence from school is detrimental to student achievement. Truancy, defined as being absent from school without a valid excuse or permission, is a serious issue addressed by schools and legal systems alike. This article explores the multifaceted aspects of truancy reset policies, drawing upon examples from various school districts and state laws to provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

The Importance of Regular School Attendance

At Jackson Heights School, the core belief is that "All students learn every day." The school experience provides opportunities for students to ask questions, receive assistance, and benefit from interactions with classmates in cooperative learning situations. Regular attendance ensures students can take full advantage of these opportunities.

California State Law emphasizes that every pupil must attend school punctually and regularly. This underscores the legal obligation of parents and guardians to ensure their children's attendance.

Excused vs. Unexcused Absences

A critical component of any truancy policy is the distinction between excused and unexcused absences. Generally, personal illness, illness or death in the family, exposure to contagious disease, religious holidays, extremely inclement weather, or school-sponsored/related activities are considered legitimate excuses for a student's absence.

All absences require written confirmation from the parent/legal guardian of a minor student. Some schools require that a note is received within 3-5 days; otherwise, the absence will be marked unexcused.

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Making Up Missed Work

Students with excused absences are generally allowed to make up all assignments that affect their course grade. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of established guidelines and to follow those guidelines to make up the assignment. However, students who receive unexcused absences may make up assignments at the discretion of the teacher, subject to the requirements communicated by the teacher at the beginning of the course.

Truancy Policies and Procedures

School districts implement specific procedures to address truancy. These policies often involve a series of notifications and interventions.

Initial Notification: If a note is not received within 3-5 days, the absence will be marked unexcused.
Truancy Letters: A Second Truancy Letter is sent home and reported to the Attendance Supervisor and CalWORKS. A Third Truancy Letter is sent home and reported to the Attendance Supervisor and CalWORKS, who may sanction benefits.
Referral to Authorities: Absences or tardiness for reasons other than those listed under Excused Absences are not excused and may be referred to the District Attorney's Office.

Excessive Absences

High schools often have specific criteria for excessive absences. For example, students having more than twelve (12) absences from a class (excused or unexcused) within a given semester may be considered as having excessive absences. In high schools with alternate day schedules (i.e., block scheduling), students having more than six (6) class absences from a class (excused or unexcused) within a given semester will be considered as having excessive absences.

When a student's absences equal two-thirds of the number for excessive absences, the school will notify the parent/legal guardian of a minor student in writing of the number of absences and will be responsible for working with the student and, if applicable, the minor student’s parent/legal guardian in developing a plan of corrective action as appropriate. When a student's absences are excessive, the teacher will notify the principal.

Corrective Action Plans

In elementary and middle schools (grades K-8), students having excessive absences will participate in a corrective action plan with intervention strategies to improve attendance. In high schools, students having excessive absences within a given semester may receive a failing grade for that semester or the actual class grade, whichever is lower.

Legal Frameworks: Maryland and Washington State

Different states have different laws regarding truancy. Maryland law requires all children, 5 years and older and under 18, who live in this state and attend public schools to attend school regularly unless excused with a lawful absence. Absence for all or any portion of a school day, for any reason other than a lawful absence, is presumed to be unlawful.

Each local school system in Maryland must develop a student attendance policy, and each individual school district may include specific criteria for unlawful absences in the attendance policies. If a student’s unlawful absences exceed the legally defined amount, and the student is deemed to be truant, the student will be referred to the county board’s system of active intervention. A school system representative will investigate the cause of the truancy.

For a second or subsequent conviction in Maryland, the individual is subject to a fine not to exceed $100 per day of unlawful absence or imprisonment not to exceed 5 days, or both. There is an affirmative defense if a person with legal custody of the student at the time of the alleged violation made reasonable and substantial efforts to see that the child attended, but was unable to get the child to attend school. Some Maryland Circuit Courts have truancy reduction courts to assist with reducing truancy and keeping Maryland students in school.

In Washington, a state law called the “Becca Bill” requires all children between ages 8 and 18 to attend school regularly. The law requires parents or legal guardians to make sure their children are in school regularly. Students can be in public school, private school, or homeschool. The law requires that students are in school, full-time, every day, unless there is a valid excuse. If that doesn't work, a student and family can be referred to a Community Engagement Board or to court.

If a student misses school a lot, even with a valid excuse, the law now requires schools to meet and work with the family to figure out why, and make a plan to help the student get to school regularly. That is because missing school a lot or “chronic absenteeism” can make it hard for a student to keep up. It can also be a sign that a student might not be getting the supports they need.

Addressing Tardiness

Tardiness, defined as being late for school, absenting oneself from school for any period during the day, or leaving school early, is also addressed in school policies. Tardies must now be recorded as excused or unexcused. After the third unexcused tardy, the principal or designee shall conference with the parent in person or by phone.

Students who desire to excuse a tardy to school shall present a written excuse signed by the parent or guardian no later than the third (3rd) school day following the tardy. Failure to present an excuse within three (3) days shall result in an unexcused tardy.

Waiver Requests and Appeals

A parent/legal guardian of a minor student may request a waiver of the attendance regulation for extenuating circumstances beyond the parent's and/or student's control. A waiver may be submitted to the principal prior to the close of a semester or nine-week course, but no later than ten (10) days after the close of a semester or nine-week course.

Each waiver request will be considered on an individual basis taking into consideration documentation provided and extenuating circumstances beyond the parent's and/or student's control. The principal shall act upon a waiver request within ten (10) administrative days after receiving it.

A parent/legal guardian of a minor student may appeal the decision of the principal by submitting to the Coordinator of Student Services a written appeal within three (3) days of receipt of the decision from the principal. A parent/legal guardian of a minor student may appeal the decision of the Coordinator of Student Services to the appropriate Senior Executive Director in the Department of School Leadership.

Collaborative Efforts and Support Systems

Addressing truancy effectively requires a collaborative effort involving the school, the student, and the family.

Student Support Team (SST): The principal or designee shall schedule a conference with the Student Support Team (SST), the student, the student’s parent/legal guardian, and school personnel.
Case Management: If the parent/legal guardian refuses to cooperate with the school division, the case manager, with the knowledge and support of School Administration and in consultation with Court Services, should institute proceedings against the parent/legal guardian.

Expectations and Responsibilities

Each member of a school's faculty is expected to avoid causing a student to be tardy or absent from a colleague's class. Students shall not be in an unauthorized area of the school without prior permission, and shall not leave a classroom, building, or assigned area without proper permission.

Parents and guardians are expected to provide timely transportation (within no more than 30 minutes) to a child who does not ride the bus.

Virtual Learning Considerations

When students are in a virtual environment, schools will not follow the prescribed guidelines as noted above as it would not be practical to have these requirements.

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