FILE:  JBE

 

TRUANCY

 

 

The East Feliciana Parish School Board recognizes truancy as absence from class or school for any portion of a period or day without permission from home or school.  Students shall not be allowed to leave the campus without proper permission at any time during the school day, including before school begins, after school while waiting for their bus, or any disciplinary session which the student has been directed to attend.  Students shall remain on the campus at all times unless granted permission to be off-campus, or be subject to disciplinary action.  Violations of attendance laws and regulations may lead to suspension and/or expulsion from school.

 

School personnel shall be expected to make every reasonable effort to assist a child who is habitually absent or tardy.   A student shall be considered habitually absent or habitually tardy when either condition continues to exist after all reasonable efforts by any school personnel, truant officer, or other law enforcement personnel have failed to correct the condition after the fifth (5th) unexcused absence or fifth (5th) unexcused occurrence of being tardy within any school semester.  Any student who is a juvenile and who is considered habitually absent from school or habitually tardy shall be reported by visiting teachers and Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance to the family or juvenile court of the parish or city as a truant child.

 

Tardy, for the purpose of notification, shall include, but not be limited to being late to school, or leaving or checking out of school unexcused prior to the regularly scheduled dismissal time at the end of the school day.  However, it shall not include reporting late to class when transferring from one class to another during the school day.

 

PROCEDURES

 

The Truancy Program is an innovative approach which is a cooperative effort of the East Feliciana Parish School Board, the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, principals, teachers, parents, students, policemen, juvenile probation officers, Families in Need of Services (FINS) intake workers, and the Parish Juvenile Court.  Truancy and excessive absenteeism shall be handled in the following manner:

 

  1. A phone call will be made to parent each day a student is absent.
     

  2. After a student’s third unexcused absence or unexcused tardy in a semester, a verbal contact and a letter shall be sent to parent/guardian advising of a conference with the principal at which time the compulsory school attendance law shall be explained.  The parent shall be required to sign and return the notification sent.
     

  3. After the 5th unexcused absence in a semester for High School students and/or after the 9th unexcused absence in the school year for Elementary and Middle School students, the principal shall complete a "Student Unexcused Attendance Referral Form" and send it, along with documentation and recommendations, to the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.
     

  4. After receiving notification from the principal, the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance shall contact the parent/guardian to discuss the student's truancy.
     

  5. After the Supervisor has contacted the parent/guardian and upon the next unexcused absence, a counseling session will be scheduled by the principal or designee, with the following persons in attendance:

 

    1. Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance,
       

    2. East Feliciana Parish Probation Officer or Families in Need of Services Intake Officer,
       

    3. School Principal,
       

    4. Parent/Guardian and Student.

 

  1. If the counseling session is ineffective, the parent and child will be petitioned to appear before juvenile court.
     

  2. Parish policemen may stop any youth who is required by law to attend school, and who during school hours, is on the street, in a public place, or on the premises of a private business.  They will determine why the youth is not in school.  Any child between the ages of seven (7) through sixteen (16), inclusive, who appears to be absent during normal school hours may be detained to inquire about the circumstances relative to his/her being absent from school.  The officer will attempt to establish the age of the youth.  A youth who comes within the compulsory school attendance age will:

 

    1. Be questioned regarding his/her absence from school;
       

    2. Be taken home or directed to continue to his/her destination if it has been determined that there is a legitimate or valid reason for being absent from school;
       

    3. Be taken home, to the police station or parish jail, or appropriate place provided for holding juveniles, when the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that the youth is absent from school without proper authority;
       

    4. The Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance will be notified of suspected truant students;
       

    5. The student may be referred to the Court if it has been determined that he/she is absent from school without legitimate excuse.

 

GUARDIAN RESPONSIBLE

 

With regard to any student in grades kindergarten (K) through eighth (8th) grade who is considered habitually absent or tardy, in any case where the student is the subject of a court ordered custody or visitation plan, the parent or legal guardian who is lawfully exercising actual physical custody or visitation of the student shall be responsible for the student’s attendance at school on those days and shall be solely responsible for any absence or tardiness of the child on such days.

 

Re-Adopted:  May 4, 1999

Re-Adopted:  December 2, 2008

Revised:  September, 2009

Re-Adopted:  November 3, 2009

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:221, 17:223, 17:228, 17:233

Louisiana Children’s Code, Art. 728, Art. 730

Board minutes, 10-3-78, 1-6-87, 10-8-91, 5-4-99, 12-2-08, 11-3-09

 

East Feliciana Parish School Board