Secondary Attendance & Truancy SOP

    Updated 8/31/23

    School Board Policy 7:70

    Illinois School Code 105 ILCS 5/26
    1. 1

      Daily

      Teacher:
      Records daily attendance.

      Designated Office Professional:
      Codes student absences using information provided by guardians and the absence codes on this document using this SOP.

      Sends an automated call home for students with an unexcused absence.

    2. 2

      Based on the 10th Day Attendance

      Office OP/Secretary:
      • After the 6th day, have communication electronic and phone call to families of students not in attendance

      Designated Administrator: 
      Unenroll students who: 
      • Were carried over from last year in the SIS, but did not register for the current year and the school has not been able to contact.  Provide a list of these students to the Truancy Interventionist so they can attempt to make contact with the family and prompt them to register, re-enroll and attend.
      • Registered but have not attended any school and the school confirmed they no longer plan to attend school in our school district.
      • Drop on the 10th Day

      Withdrawal Process
      • Elementary & Middle Schools: Submit a withdrawal form to State Reporting OP
      • High School: data processors complete eSchool withdrawal and inform State Reporting OP via email
    3. 3

      Weekly to Monthly

      Designated Office Professional:
      Run the Excessive Absence report using these directions.

      Send a warning letter for attendance probation to parents/guardians of students who have accumulated 5 - 9 unverified absences. (May be sent digitally)

      Send an attendance probation letter home to parents/guardians of students who have accumulated 10 or more unverified absences. (May be sent digitally) 

      When reviewing the excessive absence report for students on attendance probation, unverified absences that are in excess of 10 days should be treated as unexcused absences.  
      • If requested by a truancy interventionist, unverified absences in excess of 10 days may be re-coded to unexcused absence codes. (Examples: UNX instead of ECE or VACU instead of VAC) 
    4. 4

      Monthly

      Designated Office Professional:

      Run excessive absence report or attendance report of students absences.

    5. 5

      Monthly

      Designated Office Professional:

      • 5 day letters (1st notice) are created for  students who have 5 or more unexcused absences;  

        • a student is considered absent if they attended less than 4 periods of the day

        • students who have excessive excused absences should also be provided with a 1st notice

      • Letters are sent to designated admin to review; 

      • Document is created and maintained to track which students are sent a letter (must be sent via mail)


    6. 6

      Monthly

      Designated School Administrator:

      • Reviews student records to ensure accuracy and appropriateness; 

      • Signs and mails home letter to parent or guardian; 

      • Responds to parent concerns that cannot be addressed by the office professional(s).

      • Share copy of letter & tracking document with counselor, truancy interventionist, and data processor

      • Determine students who are to be referred to the truancy interventionist.

        • If a student is on probation, do not report to the truancy specialist and report the student's attendance concerns to the probation officer.

    7. 7

      At the 10 day unexcused absence threshold

      Designated Office Professional:

    8. 8

      Immediately after 10 day referral notice is received

      Truancy interventionist:

      Sends a letter of introduction, explains role of truancy interventionist

      -2nd Notice/Introductory letter
    9. 9

      Ongoing: 15 Day Notification (Consecutive Days)

      Designated School Administrator:
      • Per School Code 5/26-2 No removal of truant minor from enrollment roster unless he/she has accrued  15 consecutive days of absence without valid cause and cannot be located or will not return and the district has exhausted all available supportive services. 
      • For a student who has missed 15 consecutive days of school whiteout valid cause and cannot be located to return and for whom all support services have been exhausted, send a letter to the parents/guardian who enrolled the student asking if they intend to withdraw. (Unless a vacation request was submitted - even if denied).
      • Notify eSchool (Dena/Kenya) administrators for removal from SIS
        • Make copy of current schedule/IPR
      • Provide a copy of 15 day letter to the Truancy Interventionist

    10. 10

      Ongoing

      Truancy Interventionist:
      Continues to monitor absences beyond 10 days.
      • Home visit for 15 day drop notices to verify if the student is still living at the residence listed with the school district.  
      • Notify the school and CO team of their findings.
    11. 11

      Anytime after truancy case is opened

      Truancy Interventionist: 
      If attendance does not improve, a medical letter requiring all further absences to be excused by a Dr can be sent. Medical Letter from the Regional Attendance Cooperative
    12. 12

      Attendance does not improve to 90% with 2 or more unexcused absences

      Truancy Interventionist:

      Third letter, home visit, phone call, any form of contact possible.

      -If families are having health issues, connect with school team for support, attendance coding & external healthcare professional documentation (as needed)

      --Third Notice letter
    13. 13

      All truancy interventionist interventions are exhausted and unexcused absences continue

      Truancy Interventionist:
      Packet is developed to submit to the ROE (Truancy Interventionist), meeting is scheduled at the school where the student attends
    14. 14

      On scheduled hearing date

      ROE- Director of at Risk Students:

      Review the petition and possible consequences with the student & family.  

      20 days of no-unexcused absences and 90% attendance is expected. Truancy Hearing Outline

      Letter provided to explain the start and stop date of the 20 days

    15. 15

      Within 20 days, if attendance requirements not met

      ROE- Director of At-Risk Student Services:
      Submits the case to the state’s attorney to establish a court date.
    16. 16

      End