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Pattern of Non-Attendance
(Combinaton of the 4 previews strategies)
- Pattern of Non-Attendance
- Non-attendance for instructional activities is established by tardiness, early sign-
outs, or absences for all or any part of the day.
- Attendance must be taken for each period.
- Unless acceptable documentation is presented/submitted, an accumulation of
daily absences (excused or unexcused), by tardiness, or early sign-outs that equals 5
days (30 hours) in a marking period or 10 days (60 hours) within two marking
periods may establish a pattern of non-attendance.
- Students are expected to attend school every day of each marking period. If a student has accumulated 5 days of absences, e.g. if a student signed out early 5 times, was absent 2 days, was tardy 10 times, and the accumulated minutes equals more than 5 days, the principal/designee will determine whether the student is establishing a pattern of nonattendance. If no pattern is determined, e.g. a doctor’s note for continued physical therapy etc., interventions may be provided. If, however, it is determined that there is a pattern of non-attendance then sanctions may be imposed (see below for possible sanctions).
Every Monday the school receives via OptiSpool, a “Pattern-of-Non-Attendance” document that lists the students who have missed 5 days of school. (accumulation of absences,(excused unexcused, tardy or early
sign-out minutes) that equal 5 days of absences, i.e 1,800 minutes.
Review the list weekly and excuse those students who have a
legitimate reason for the absence. Follow further directions below
for those without a legitimate reason for the absence
c. If the student exhibits a pattern of nonattendance, principals may request
documentation for subsequent absences. (F.S. 1003.24(4)) Non-attendance for
instructional activities is established by tardiness, early-sign-outs, or absences
for all or any part of the day. If the Principal determines that there is clear evidence of a pattern of nonattendance the case should be referred to the Collaborative Problem Solving Team (CPST).
CPST consists of:
- Principal
- Assistant Principal
- School Counselor
- School Psychologist
- School Social Worker
- Reading Specialist
- ESE Specialist
• If the CPST finds that a pattern of non-attendance is developing,
whether the absences are excused or not, a meeting is scheduled
with the parent to identify potential remedies.
• If the 5-day meeting determines that the reasons for the excessive absences are legitimate, the 076 Code is entered on the L27, thus the BTIP process is halted (a comment is entered on the L27 explaining why the 076 Code was used).
• If the reasons are not accepted, the school monitors the case, and
continues school-based interventions to remediate the truant behavior.
The interventions may include, but need not be limited to:
1. Frequent communication between the teacher and family
2. Changes in the learning environment;
3. Mentoring
4. Student counseling
5. Tutoring, including peer tutoring
6. Placement into different classes
7. Evaluation for alternative education programs
8. Attendance contracts
9. Referral to other agencies for family interventions or
services
• Parents are notified of their right to appeal the interventions.
Appeals may be made to the Superintendent.
• The Superintendent/designee shall provide a hearing officer to hear
the appeal and make a recommendation for final action to the Board
D. "Habitual truant" means a student who has 15 unexcused absences within 90 calendar days with or without the knowledge or justifiable consent of the child's parent, is subject to compulsory school attendance under s. 1003.21 (1) and (2) (a), and is not exempt under s.1003.21(3) or s. 1003.24, or 3 by meeting the criteria for any other exemption specified by law or rules of the State Board of Education. (F.S. 1003.01 (8))
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Chronic Absenteeism
- Chronic Absenteeism
- The Broward Truancy Intervention Program (BTIP) is a joint partnership program of the Broward State Attorney’s office and the school Board of Broward County. The program is designed to prevent excessive absences through parent notification and accountability, school interventions, and daily monitoring of attendance. Parents are expected to communicate with school personnel regarding absences. Parents who do not comply are referred to the State Attorney’s Office for failure to comply with Florida Statue 1003.27 which provides that a parent commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided by law, if the parent refuses or fails to have a child attend school regularly or refuses to participate in meetings concerning the child’s truancy.
- After accruing 5 unexcused absences (including cumulative minutes for unexcused tardies) a K-5 student becomes a BTIP enrollee.
- A 5 day letter is mailed Monday to the parents for a meeting with the principal to be held the following Wednesday.
- For BTIP enrollees, the student’s TERMS student number and school are sent electronically to the State Attorney’s Office.
- After meeting with the parents at the 5-day meeting, the principal and/or School Social Worker may enter an L27 intervention 076 (absences excused). If so, the A17 unexcused absences are not deleted but subsequently, any unexcused absences earned before the 076 date are ignored in future BTIP processing.
- If the parents do not respond to the letter or they attend the meeting but do not receive the 076
- intervention (Principal does not excuse absences), the student will become a BTIP participant the following Friday pm. The student’s records are sent electronically to the State Attorney’s Office and updated weekly. For BTIP participants, the student’s demographic, attendance, and intervention data are sent.
- Once a student becomes a BTIP participant, they remain a participant for the entire school year. The 076 intervention (absences excused/parent contact) is NOT used for BTIP participants. Schools cannot “withdraw” a student from being a BTIP participant.
- If a student accrues another 5 unexcused absences after receiving a 076 intervention (parent contact/absences excused) and before becoming a BTIP participant, another 5 day meeting is scheduled.
- If the principal enters a 2nd 076 intervention after the 2nd 5 day meeting, no further BTIP processing will occur for the remainder of the school year.
- When a student accrues 10 unexcused absences ETS creates an SA5 intervention record. A 10 day meeting with the State Attorney is scheduled and a letter is mailed.
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