definition roe referral process roe interventions common issues & interventions...

$: Definition ROE Referral Process ROE Interventions Common Issues & Interventions Discussion\Questions DuPage County Regional Office of Education Truancy:$
DefinitionDefinition

ROE Referral ProcessROE Referral ProcessROE InterventionsROE Interventions

Common Issues & InterventionsCommon Issues & InterventionsDiscussion\QuestionsDiscussion\Questions

DuPage County Regional Office DuPage County Regional Office of Education Truancy: Prevention of Education Truancy: Prevention

and Interventionand Intervention

Truancy ContactsTruancy Contacts

Dr. Joseph GustDr. Joseph GustAssistant Regional SuperintendentAssistant Regional Superintendent

630-407-5772630-407-5772Angela TijerinaAngela Tijerina

Senior Staff AssistantSenior Staff Assistant630-407-5813630-407-5813

Norma MaChay Norma MaChayBehavior InterventionistBehavior Interventionist

630-407-5811 630-407-5811 Stephen GarlingtonStephen GarlingtonClinical ConsultantClinical Consultant

630-407-5812630-407-5812

Defining TruancyIllinois School Code(105 ILCS 5/26-2a) (from Ch. 122, par. 26-2a):A "truant" is defined as a child subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for a school day or portion thereof."Chronic or habitual truant" shall be defined as a child subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days."Truant minor" is defined as a chronic truant to whom supportive services, including prevention, diagnostic, intervention and remedial services, alternative programs and other school and community resources have been provided and have failed to result in the cessation of chronic truancy, or have been offered and refused.

Definition continued

A "dropout" is defined as any child enrolled in grades 1 through 12 whose name has been removed from the district enrollment roster for any reason other than his death, extended illness, graduation or completion of a program of studies and who has not transferred to another public or private school."Valid cause" for absence shall be illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, and shall include such other situations beyond the control of the student as determined by the board of education in each district, or such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent for the safety or health of the student.

Illinois Compulsory School Attendance Law

The Illinois Compulsory School Attendance Law (Article 26 of the Illinois School Code) holds parents responsible for the enrollment and regular school attendance of children between the ages of seven and seventeen. Section 26-13 of the Code requires school districts to adopt absenteeism and truancy policies identifying appropriate supportive services and available resources for truants and chronic truants. These policies must be in accordance with Rules and Regulations as established by the State Board of Education which require at least these three elements:

1. Definition of Valid Cause2. Description of Diagnostic Procedures3. Identification of Support Services

Section 26-12 of the School Code Section 26-12 of the School Code stipulates that stipulates that no punitive action, no punitive action, including school suspensions, including school suspensions, expulsions and court action, is to be expulsions and court action, is to be taken against chronic truants for such taken against chronic truants for such truancy unless available supportive truancy unless available supportive services have been provided, or at least services have been provided, or at least offered, to the student.offered, to the student.

Truancy LawsTruancy Laws

Truant Minor in Need of SupervisionTruant Minor in Need of Supervision Student is chargedStudent is charged Almost all high school and some middle Almost all high school and some middle

schoolschool

Educational NeglectEducational Neglect Parent is chargedParent is charged Almost all elementary school and some Almost all elementary school and some

middle school.middle school.

Referral to the Regional Office of Education

If excessive truancy continues after supportive services have been provided, or offered but refused, a student is to be referred to the Regional Office of Education upon being absent without valid cause for 5% of the previous 180 regular attendance days. (chronic truant)

1. Truant Referral Data Sheet

2. Attendance records for previous and current year

3. All interventions

4. Form complete

Action taken by the ROE after referral received

• Step 1• Letter #1, phone, services offered

• Step 2• Letter #2, phone call, services offered

• Step 3• Hearing scheduled at the ROE

• Court Referral

Process for ReferralsProcess for Referrals

Hearing at the ROEHearing at the ROE What is this?What is this? How does the hearing run?How does the hearing run? What are the schools responsibilityWhat are the schools responsibility

Court ReferralsCourt Referrals What is this?What is this? How does the court runHow does the court run What are the schools responsibilityWhat are the schools responsibility

Preventative ServicesPreventative Services

• Truancy Groups (middle, high school)Truancy Groups (middle, high school)• Staff TrainingStaff Training• ROE consult with school when setting up Tier 1, 2, & 3 ROE consult with school when setting up Tier 1, 2, & 3

intervention services for truancy, along with attendance intervention services for truancy, along with attendance policies/procedures. policies/procedures.

• Universal presentations to students regarding truancyUniversal presentations to students regarding truancy• Parent presentations regarding truancyParent presentations regarding truancy• Meetings with schoolMeetings with school

• BIP BIP • Parent meetingParent meeting• 504/IEP meetings504/IEP meetings

Services for Truancy ReferralServices for Truancy Referral

Individual counseling at home or schoolIndividual counseling at home or school

Family counselingFamily counseling

Wrap-around ServicesWrap-around Services

Case ManagementCase Management

Court advocate and liaison Court advocate and liaison

MonitoringMonitoring

Community ReferralsCommunity Referrals

School Refusal/Anxiety School Refusal/Anxiety Programs in DuPage CountyPrograms in DuPage County

Central DuPage HospitalCentral DuPage HospitalAlexian Brothers Behavioral Health HospitalAlexian Brothers Behavioral Health HospitalLinden OaksLinden OaksNorthwest Community HospitalNorthwest Community HospitalStreamwood Behavioral HealthStreamwood Behavioral Health

Reasons for School Refusal Reasons for School Refusal BehaviorBehavior

• To get away from something negative at schoolTo get away from something negative at school• ObjectsObjects – bus, PE, recess, class items – bus, PE, recess, class items• PeoplePeople – teachers, principals, other students – teachers, principals, other students• Performance situations Performance situations – tests, speaking in front of others, athletic events, recitals.– tests, speaking in front of others, athletic events, recitals.

• To get something positive from outside of schoolTo get something positive from outside of school• i.e: parents are close, extra attention, watching tv, video games, drug/alcohol use.i.e: parents are close, extra attention, watching tv, video games, drug/alcohol use.

Family IssuesFamily Issues

Inappropriate attitudes towards educationInappropriate attitudes towards education

Lack of guidance or parental supervisionLack of guidance or parental supervision

Drug or alcohol abuse in the homeDrug or alcohol abuse in the home

Domestic ViolenceDomestic Violence

Lack of awareness of attendance policies Lack of awareness of attendance policies

Suggested InterventionsSuggested Interventions

Attendance Policy Attendance Policy

Provide parents with information regarding Provide parents with information regarding parent education classesparent education classes

Conduct parent workshops to educate Conduct parent workshops to educate parents regarding their legal obligationparents regarding their legal obligation

Make clear to the parents that they have Make clear to the parents that they have the legal responsibility to compulsory the legal responsibility to compulsory education education

Economic Influences Economic Influences

Employed students Employed students

Homeless youth Homeless youth

Single parent homes Single parent homes

Parents with multiple jobs Parents with multiple jobs

Seasonal employment out of the countrySeasonal employment out of the country

Transportation Transportation

Child careChild care


Consider alternative schedules (high Consider alternative schedules (high school) or working studentsschool) or working studentsUtilize services of Homeless Education Utilize services of Homeless Education Program liaison to assist homeless Program liaison to assist homeless families in obtaining all financial, social families in obtaining all financial, social and medical assistanceand medical assistanceEncourage student participation in Encourage student participation in organized educational, recreational and organized educational, recreational and social activities in the communitysocial activities in the community

School FactorsSchool Factors

Perception of the student in relationship to Perception of the student in relationship to belonging to his\her groupbelonging to his\her groupSize of school (affecting feeling disassociation\Size of school (affecting feeling disassociation\alienation)alienation)Attitudes and relations among students, Attitudes and relations among students, teachers and administratorsteachers and administratorsClass schedules Class schedules Absence of rules and\or inconsistent or Absence of rules and\or inconsistent or inappropriate enforcement of rules and inappropriate enforcement of rules and procedures within schoolprocedures within school


Establish and encourage in-school and out of Establish and encourage in-school and out of school tutoring and mentoring programsschool tutoring and mentoring programsMake use of alternatives for in-school Make use of alternatives for in-school suspension and out of school suspensionssuspension and out of school suspensionsUtilize community-based collaborative network Utilize community-based collaborative network of institutions, organizations and agencies that of institutions, organizations and agencies that could offer a continuum of services for chronic could offer a continuum of services for chronic truants and their familiestruants and their familiesLink student participation with community Link student participation with community organizations to community service credits.organizations to community service credits.

Student IssuesStudent Issues

Academic problems Academic problems Drug and alcohol abuseDrug and alcohol abuseSocial, emotional or health Social, emotional or health problemsproblemsLack of understanding of Lack of understanding of attendance lawsattendance lawsMental health issuesMental health issuesPhysical health problems Physical health problems


Develop attendance workshops Develop attendance workshops for truant students for truant students Assign an individual to work with Assign an individual to work with student and\or student’s familystudent and\or student’s familyProvide students with support Provide students with support such as tutoring and mentoring such as tutoring and mentoring services services Make referrals for social service Make referrals for social service counselingcounseling

Developing and Implementing an Developing and Implementing an Effective Intervention PlanEffective Intervention Plan

Identify the Reason for the Truant Identify the Reason for the Truant BehaviorBehavior

A.A.Develop a Written Intervention PlanDevelop a Written Intervention Plan

B. School Refusal Scale B. School Refusal Scale

Things to consider:Things to consider:Determine why child is missing schoolDetermine why child is missing school

Background InformationBackground Information

Meet with childMeet with child

Schedule a parent conference Schedule a parent conference

Home Visit Home Visit

Consider the following:Consider the following: Has the child been tested to ensure appropriate placement in Has the child been tested to ensure appropriate placement in school?school?Has the child been diagnosed with any type of mental illness that Has the child been diagnosed with any type of mental illness that could be contributing to the truant behavior? could be contributing to the truant behavior? Does the child have a drug or alcohol problem?Does the child have a drug or alcohol problem?Has the child been diagnosed with any type of illness that could be Has the child been diagnosed with any type of illness that could be a contributing factor?a contributing factor?Has there been any recent stressful events in the child’s life?Has there been any recent stressful events in the child’s life?Does the child have a problem with a particular class or teacher?Does the child have a problem with a particular class or teacher?Is the child being bullied by other students at school?Is the child being bullied by other students at school?Is there a transportation problem contributing to the truancy?Is there a transportation problem contributing to the truancy?Is the child caring for younger siblings?Is the child caring for younger siblings?Do the parents have a substance abuse problem?Do the parents have a substance abuse problem?Are the parents gainfully employed and able to provide the basic Are the parents gainfully employed and able to provide the basic necessities for the family?necessities for the family?

Questions?Questions?

Discussion?Discussion?

HandoutsHandouts