Moving Toward a New Model of Attendance and Truancy Presenter: Stacy Bender Minnesota Virtual High School

MN’s Attendance/Truancy Landscape

O Each county is responsible to carry out truancy statutes. O How many counties in MN? O 87 counties in MN O Some counties take a punitive approach O Fines O Loss of driver’s license O Some counties take a restorative approach O Interventions O Social worker O Whole family system view O Resources provided to family

Model O 1200 students O 2 attendance coordinators O Track attendance based on progress increase O Send letters to students/parents O 2 truancy intervention program specialists O Connect with students to prevent truancy O Intervene at the first sign of truant behavior O 1 dean of students O File truancy O Attend court dates in person or by electronic means

County Attorney’s Perspective Janet Reiter Chisago County Supports online schools Expects online schools to provide a definition of day(s) of attendance in order to fit with Minnesota law Prefers online school representative be present in court as needed

County Attorney’s Perspective What is going well with counties and online schools ? What challenges do counties face with online schools?

Student Story: Alex Not his actual name.

Student Story: Alicia Not her actual name. O Student had difficult home life O Student had to help care for 4 younger siblings O Student was not successful at MVHS O MVHS filed truancy petition in county of residence O County discovered abusive family situation O Student and siblings were removed from home O Court ordered student into ALC setting O Student was allowed to return to MVHS O Student is now successful at MVHS and taken off of truancy case management

Anyone from Ohio? October 8, 2007

What is happening in your state?

Where should we go from here?