Welcome to the District Attorney’s CLASS Program C ommunity L eadership in A chieving S tudent S uccess

1. Welcome to the District Attorney’sCLASS ProgramCommunity Leadership in Achieving StudentSuccess Deputy District Attorney David P. Chen (805) 568 – 2427

2. School Attendance is the Law • Education Code § 48200 • School attendance is a student responsibility “Each person between the ages of 6 and 18 years…is subject to compulsory full-time education.” • …and a parent responsibility! “…the parent or legal guardian…shall send the pupil to the public full-time day school…for the full time designated…”

3. What is “Truancy”? • Education Code § 48260 A student must be classified and reported as truant if the student is absent from school without a valid excuse (1) for 3 full days,or (2)tardy or absent for more than a 30-minute period on 3 occasions, or (3) any combination thereof within one school year.

4. What is “Truancy”? Unexcused Tardies > 30 min Unexcused Absences TRUANCY = • Education Code § 48261 A child who has been reported truant at least once and is again absent or tardy from school, without valid excuse, on 1 or more days shall again be reported as truant.

5. What Absences are Excused? • Education Code § 48205 • Student’s illness • Medical, dental, eye appointments • Illness or medical appointment of student’s child • Attendance of funeral of immediate family member • Religious holiday or ceremony • Prior written request and principal approval in accordance with district regulation and policy A student whose absence is excusedmust be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can be reasonably provided. All other absences are UNEXCUSED

6. Examples ofUnexcused Absences Under the law, a student’s absence will still be considered unexcusedfor the following reasons: Parents’ illnesses or appointments Siblings’ illnesses or appointments Car trouble Taking care of siblings Working Fatigue or oversleeping Running errands with parents

7. The Importance ofRegular School Attendance • There is a direct connection between truancy and • Test scores • Dropout / graduation rates • Delinquent behavior • Using cigarettes, drugs, alcohol • Being involved in gang activity, theft, destruction of property, burglary, graffiti, and fighting • Future unemployment • Future income • Being a victim or witness to a crime

8. The Importance ofRegular School Attendance • Statistics show that: • 67% of truants tested positive for drugs when detained • 78%of prison inmates first entry in record was truancy • 82%of prison inmates are school dropouts Source: California District Attorney’s Association • BUT… A 10%increase in graduation rates reduces • Violent crime by 20% • Drug-related crime by 12% • Property crime by 11% Source: California Dropout Research Project

9. The Costs of Truancy • Many school districts are funded based on their attendance rates • $35 per student per day • $6,300 per student per year *Average based on Revenue Limit funding

10. The Legal Consequences of Truancy • Parents • 1st conviction$100 Fine • 2nd conviction$250 Fine • 3rd conviction $500 Fine • Attendance of parenteducation and counseling • Failure to abide by court order • results in Contempt charges • and $1,000 Fine • For severe cases • $2,500 Fine • 1 year county jail Students Each conviction $50 Fine Court orders to attend schooland counseling programs Community service20-40 hours Suspension, revocation ordelay of issuance of driver’slicense 1 year Probation Up to 6 mos. For severe cases Contempt charges + $1,000 Fine Juvenile Hall

11. Good Attendance = Good Grades vs. 9th grade attendance Students with 70% or lower attendance <20%graduated Students with 95% or greater attendance >80% graduated More than 80%of students who skip school once a week or more do NOT think it affects their grades or their chances of graduating Which is a better predictor of high school success? 8th grade test scores Student Success Starts Early! Students with low attendance in pre-K and K are more likely to continue to have low attendance and be retained in the 3rd grade Based on 6th grade attendance, behavior and course failure, schools can identify 60% of future students who will NOT graduate from high school Source: www.AttendanceWorks.org

12. Good Attendance = Good Grades Santa Maria Bonita Grades 2-8 } 54%

13. Potential Reasons for Truancy Bullying Problems at home No interest in education Lack of parental involvement and support Drug or alcohol use Feels alienated Behind in school No consequences for cutting school

14. The 5 Steps of CLASS

15. Questions? Thank You!