PUTNAM COUNTY SCHOOLS TRUANCY DIVERSION PROGRAM

TRUANCY DIVERSION PROCESS Putnam County’s Truancy Diversion Program was initiated during the school year, with the addition of a School Based Probation Officer (SBPO) during the school year. Putnam County has a great Truancy Diversion Program, set up with the intention of helping students succeed. Diversion Team Members: Magistrate Linda Hunt Sara Whitney, Investigator- Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Danielle Gillispie, Coordinator of Drug Abuse Prevention-PCS Alyson Crouch, SBPO- Supreme Court/ PCS Elizabeth Kennedy, CPS Supervisor Putnam County DHHR Jennifer Hodges, Attendance Director- PCS

TRUANCY DIVERSION PROCESS Truancy complaints (Students who have missed more than 10 unexcused days) are sent to the Magistrate’s office, where they are evaluated by the SBPO, Prosecutor’s Office, and Magistrate Hunt. The complaints that are accepted for Truancy Diversion are then scheduled for Truancy Diversion meetings. Meetings are typically once/twice per month at the Diversion level. Truancy complaints (Students who have missed more than 10 unexcused days) are sent to the Magistrate’s office, where they are evaluated by the SBPO, Prosecutor’s Office, and Magistrate Hunt. The complaints that are accepted for Truancy Diversion are then scheduled for Truancy Diversion meetings. Meetings are typically once/twice per month at the Diversion level. When the student and family attend the Truancy Diversion meeting, all of the team members evaluate each INDIVIDUAL situation to help assess and determine any needs the student might have. When the student and family attend the Truancy Diversion meeting, all of the team members evaluate each INDIVIDUAL situation to help assess and determine any needs the student might have.

TRUANCY DIVERSION PROCESS After evaluating the individual needs of the child and family, the following steps can be taken: Self-Improvement Referral/ Monitor Self-Improvement Referral/ Monitor DHHR Referral for Services DHHR Referral for Services Truancy Diversion Contract Truancy Diversion Contract Prosecutor Referral for Circuit Court Petition Prosecutor Referral for Circuit Court Petition

Self-Improvement Referral/ Monitor

DHHR Referral for Services

Truancy Diversion Contract Terms and Conditions monitored by SBPO, including the following: No further unexcused absences Satisfactory academic progress No use or possession of any alcoholic beverages, controlled or other intoxicating substances, or tobacco products Random drug testing Home and school visits by SBPO Comply with DHHR and/or YRC services when directed The SBPO has the ability to review and access the student’s cell phone and social media

Prosecutor Referral for Circuit Court Petition

ZOOM WV DATA Dropout Rate Trend for Putnam County- Number of Dropouts has decreased approximately 70% between 2011 and 2015

ZOOM WV DATA Graduation Rate Trend for Putnam County Approximately 10% increase in 4 year graduates Nearly 4% increase in 5 year graduates Percentage of 4 year graduates surpassed 5 year graduates- more students graduating ON TIME!

PUTNAM COUNTY TRUANCY REFERRALS

DATA ISSUES/CONCERNS The change in data measurements between the and school years makes it difficult to form a cohesive opinion of how the program has worked the past few years based on Attendance percentages alone. For example, our Attendance rates dropped from 98% in to 94.3% in , due to attendance reports no longer including “non-deduct for accountability” flag. It will take a few years of the new attendance standards to develop a true determination of how the attendance rates are affected by the truancy diversion program. The change in truancy laws (from 5 days to 10 days unexcused) this year has also lowered the number of students we are able to help with our truancy diversion program.