REDUCING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NETWORK 3/14/18 FEN REDUCING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM FAMILY ENGAGEMENT NETWORK 3/14/18 Susan Levine, Ed.D. Director of Pupil and Administrative Services (PAS) Riverside County Office of Education (951) 826-6448, slevine@rcoe.us Amir Alavi, Esq. Deputy District Attorney, Crime Prevention Unit Countywide SARB Coordinator & Prosecutor (858) 722-9992 – cell, amiralavi@rivcoda.org Get CCR; Review Fines; Print out copies; Agenda Overview Re: LCAP priorities; SARB Panel

TODAY’S AGENDA Introductions The Problem Definitions FEN TODAY’S AGENDA Introductions The Problem Definitions National Statistics Riverside County Statistics Plan of Attack-tier I, tier II, tier III SART/SARB DA Mediation/Legal System Involvement Best Practices

DEFINITION - Truancy TRUANCY: Ed. Code § 48260 FEN DEFINITION - Truancy TRUANCY: Ed. Code § 48260 “a pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuation education, who is absent from school without a valid excuse three full days in one school year or tardy or absent for more than a 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof, shall be classified as a truant and shall be reported to the attendance supervisor or to the superintendent of the school district.”

DEFINITION – Chronic Truant FEN DEFINITION – Chronic Truant CHRONIC TRUANT: Ed. Code § 48263.6 “Any pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or to compulsory continuation education, who is absent from school without a valid excuse for 10% or more of the schooldays in one school year, from the date enrolled to the current date, is deemed a chronic truant, provided that the appropriate school district officer or employee has complied with Sections 48260, 48260.5, 48261, 48262, 48263 and 48291.”

DEFINITION - Chronic Absentee FEN DEFINITION - Chronic Absentee CHRONIC ABSENTEE Ed. Code § 60901(c) For purposes of this section, "chronic absentee" means a pupil who is absent on 10 percent or more of the schooldays in the school year when the total number of days a pupil is absent is divided by the total number of days the pupil is enrolled and school was actually taught in the regular day schools of the district, exclusive of Saturdays and Sundays.

What is Chronic Absence? Chronic absence is missing so much school for any reason that a student is academically at risk. Attendance Works recommends defining it as missing 10% or more of school for any reason. FEN Chronic Absence Excused absences Unexcused absences Suspensions Chronic absence is different from truancy (unexcused absences only) or average daily attendance (how many students show up to school each day).

Reflects New Paradigm on Attendance Truancy Counts unexcused absences Emphasizes compliance with school rules Uses legal, typically more punitive solutions Chronic Absence Counts all absences Emphasizes academic impact of missed days. Uses preventive strategies, positive messaging

ADA Conceals True Figures FEN Attorney General In School & On Track 2016 Report ADA Conceals True Figures

ADA Conceals True Figures FEN ADA Conceals True Figures EXAMPLE HIGH SCHOOL (EHS) – 2119 Students (State SARB Handbook - 2015, p.19) 95% ADA  Staff Very Pleased HOWEVER: 20,598 Days Missed in 2011-12 341 Students  11,162 Absences 16% of Students Caused 54% of ALL Absences Members of 341 Group averaged 32 absences/year MOST EXCUSED!

First Ever National Chronic Absence Data Released in June 2016 Nationwide, over 6 million students missed 15 or more days of school in 2013-14. That’s 13 % of the student population or 1 in 7 students. Source: U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection https://www2.ed.gov/datastory/chronicabsenteeism.html

Source: U.S. Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection SY 2013-14 https://www2.ed.gov/datastory/chronicabsenteeism.html

Percent of Students Chronically Absent In one out of five schools, 20 percent of students or more are chronically absent, while in slightly more than half of all schools it is < 10 percent FEN Percent of Students Chronically Absent Number of Schools Percent of Schools Extreme Chronic Absence (30%+) 9,921   High Chronic Absence (20-29%) 10,330 Significant Chronic Absence (10-19%) 28,320 Modest Chronic Absence (5-9%) 21,190 Low Chronic Absence (0-4%) 22,572 Grand Total 92,333

COST TO SOCIETY For Each 120,000 cohort of 20 Y.O. Dropouts FEN COST TO SOCIETY For Each 120,000 cohort of 20 Y.O. Dropouts CA sustains $4.6 billion in economic losses 2.9% of CA Annual GDP CA Local Gov.’s  $9.5 billion in fiscal losses $3.1 billion in lost state and local tax revenues $3.5 billion in health expenditures $2.5 billion in crime expenditures $400 million in welfare expenditures (Truancy In California 2017, CDAA, p.9)

OUR COUNTY-TRUANCY FEN

OUR COUNTY FEN ADD MATERIAL

County Grades K-12 Cumulative Enrollment Grades K-12 Chronic Absenteeism Count Grades K-12 Chronic Absenteeism Rate Grade K Chronic Absenteeism Rate Grades 1-3 Chronic Absenteeism Rate Grades 4-6 Chronic Absenteeism Rate Grades 7-8 Chronic Absenteeism Rate Grades K-8 Chronic Absenteeism Rate Grades 9-12 Chronic Absenteeism Rate Alameda 235,470 25,624 10.9% 13.7% 9.1% 7.8% 8.5% 15.0% Contra Costa 184,036 21,511 11.7% 14.8% 9.5% 8.2% 9.4% 9.7% 15.9% Fresno 210,139 28,477 13.6% 17.7% 10.7% 13.1% 17.8% Kern 195,216 26,188 13.4% 17.0% 13.8% 11.8% 17.2% Los Angeles 1,571,756 175,238 11.1% 15.1% 8.6% 7.3% 8.4% 9.0% 15.6% Orange 505,775 42,201 8.3% 11.0% 5.7% 5.0% 6.9% 6.4% 12.2% Riverside 449,493 59,474 13.2% 16.4% 9.9% 8.8% 12.0% 10.8% 18.4% Sacramento 258,720 38,326 19.1% 14.5% 10.2% 12.3% 18.5% San Bernardino 434,151 59,190 9.2% 11.5% 18.2% San Diego 529,961 56,867 7.9% 7.0% Santa Clara 282,774 25,874 7.5% 7.1% State of CA ####### 694,030 14.0% 8.1% 8.7% 15.4% FEN

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FEN District Alvord Unified 20,767 2,519 12.1% 15.8% 8.5% 7.2% 9.6% Grades K-12 Cumulative Enrollment Grades K-12 Chronic Absenteeism Count Grades K-12 Chronic Absenteeism Rate Grade K Chronic Absenteeism Rate Grades 1-3 Chronic Absenteeism Rate Grades 4-6 Chronic Absenteeism Rate Grades 7-8 Chronic Absenteeism Rate Grades K-8 Chronic Absenteeism Rate Grades 9-12 Chronic Absenteeism Rate Alvord Unified 20,767 2,519 12.1% 15.8% 8.5% 7.2% 9.6% 9.3% 18.3% Banning Unified 5,063 892 17.6% 20.5% 13.5% 13.2% 17.1% 15.2% 23.8% Beaumont Unified 10,760 1,064 9.9% 11.7% 9.0% 8.3% 7.7% 8.8% 12.5% California School for the Deaf-Riverside 373 94 25.2% 30.0% 33.3% 22.8% 28.3% 28.1% 22.3% Coachella Valley Unified 19,742 3,117 14.3% 9.7% 15.4% 11.5% 26.9% Corona-Norco Unified 56,025 4,379 7.8% 10.0% 5.3% 4.6% 5.8% 5.7% 12.0% Desert Center Unified 21 4 19.0% *   Desert Sands Unified 30,151 3,976 15.5% 9.2% 10.5% 19.7% Hemet Unified 24,068 4,366 18.1% 14.6% 13.3% 23.2% Jurupa Unified 20,608 2,210 10.7% 13.9% 6.2% 11.4% 15.0% Lake Elsinore Unified 23,646 3,023 12.8% 8.7% 12.3% 11.0% 16.9% Menifee Union Elementary 12,530 1,017 8.1% 7.4% 5.9% 8.0% Moreno Valley Unified 36,575 5,859 16.0% 22.9% 13.7% 16.4% 14.9% 18.5% Murrieta Valley Unified 24,272 2,166 8.9% 10.3% 6.9% 6.7% Nuview Union 3,199 275 8.6% 6.4% 7.5% Palm Springs Unified 24,465 3,885 15.9% 20.8% 14.0% 17.3% 17.8% Palo Verde Unified 3,255 662 20.3% 19.6% 16.1% 24.3% Perris Elementary 6,503 767 11.8% 19.2% 9.5% 3.1% Perris Union High 11,592 1,982 4.4% Riverside County Office of Education 11,473 1,121 9.8% 7.3% 6.0% 6.8% Riverside Unified 45,203 4,859 Romoland Elementary 4,234 461 10.9% San Jacinto Unified 12,352 1,540 12.7% 9.4% 20.1% SBE - Baypoint Preparatory Academy 424 45 10.6% 14.7% 7.1% 13.0% 10.8% Temecula Valley Unified 31,498 3,394 10.4% Val Verde Unified 21,607 1,883 11.2% 6.1% 5.1% 6.3% Riverside County 449,493 59,474 18.4% State of CA 6,405,496 694,030 7.0% FEN

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FEN PARTNER ACTIVITY Share with an elbow partner the “ah has” you see in the County data. Now share the “ah has” in your District’s data.

ADMINISTRATOR LEADERSHIP FEN ADMINISTRATOR LEADERSHIP Identify or establish a team to address attendance Develop an initial plan of action Create a tiered system of supports Invest in professional development Tap community partners for help    

ADMINISTRATORS’ CHALLENGE FEN ADMINISTRATORS’ CHALLENGE

Identify or establish a team to address attendance FEN Identify or establish a team to address attendance Identify additional staff who can help launch the work. Ideally this would include those familiar with attendance data, parent engagement activities, student behavior, family supports, as well as the ability to help engage other teachers. This team should meet regularly to review the school’s attendance data and coordinate efforts to reduce chronic absence.

Develop an initial plan of action FEN Develop an initial plan of action Conduct a school assessment with your team to develop a shared picture of strengths, challenges and opportunities for action and to identify what are the most critical next steps for putting in place effective practice

FEN Tiered Interventions

FEN PREVENTION – TIER 1 Tier I interventions are the school wide program that all students get. These are positive to promote a robust school climate. The Tier I plan should engage students, school staff, families and the community. Data collected will assist in intervention and support.

Attendance is higher when schools: Tier 1: Creating a Positive, Engaging School Climate that Supports Attendance Attendance is higher when schools: Promote a sense of belonging and connection including noticing when students show up Make learning engaging so students don’t want to miss class Engage in restorative practice not punishment Meet the basic needs of our most economically challenged families so all have the opportunity to get to school Build awareness about how absences can easily add up to too much time lost in the classroom

Tier I Parent Involvement FEN Tier I Parent Involvement Inform parents about how your school’s attendance incentive program works Provide parents with info about local resources that can offer economic and social support Create opportunities for parents to share barriers and strategies Share data on attendance and chronic absence Share school wide goals as well

Examples of Tier 1 Interventions Riverside County FEN Examples of Tier 1 Interventions Riverside County Recognizing Good Attendance Assemblies, Certificates, Awards… Prizes: Bikes, Movie Tickets, Field Trips School Based Health Supports Insurance Assistance Vaccination & Immunization Assistance Parent Education – Group D.A. Attendance Presentations

FEN School Climate Video

With an elbow partner…. Discuss what struck you about this video? FEN With an elbow partner…. Discuss what struck you about this video? How does climate affect a student’s attendance? How might you use this video clip?

Criteria for Identifying Priority Students for Tier 2 Supports Chronic absence (missed 10% or more of school) in the prior year, assuming data is available. And/or starting in the beginning of the school year, student has: In first 2 weeks 2 absences In first month (4 weeks) 2-3 absences Missing 10% any time after In first 2 months (8 weeks) 4 absences

Unpack Contributing Factors to Chronic Absence FEN Myths Absences are only a problem if they are unexcused Don’t realize just missing 2 days per month can affect learning Sporadic absences aren’t a problem Attendance only matters in the older grades Barriers Lack of access to health or dental care Chronic illness Trauma No safe path to school Poor Transportation Housing instability High mobility Involvement with child welfare or juvenile justice system Aversion Struggling academically or socially Bullying Ineffective / exclusionary school discipline Parents had negative school experience Undiagnosed disability Disengagement Lack of engaging and culturally relevant instruction No meaningful relationships with adults in school Vulnerable to being with peers out of school vs. in school Poor school climate Discouraged due to lack of credits FosterED suggested these changes: Barriers: Placement instability and frequent out-of-school appointments due to court involvement for system-involved youth   Aversion: Recent history of school mobility and lack of connection to current school for system involved youth Disengagement: Not awarded appropriate credits for prior course work at previous school for system-involved youth

Examples of Tier 2 Group Interventions FEN Examples of Tier 2 Group Interventions Walking school bus Peer group mentors Afterschool programs Homework clubs Support groups / affinity groups

Examples of Tier 2 Individual Interventions FEN Examples of Tier 2 Individual Interventions Home Visits Parent Conferences: SSTs & SARTs Identifying Barriers, Aversions & Obstacles Support Services/Resources/Interventions Attendance Contracts (SART) Following Up & Monitoring Progress

SART Overview (TIER II) FEN SART Overview (TIER II) PURPOSE: To Meet with Families Individually To Listen & to Connect with Families To Identify Reasons for Absenteeism To Provide Services to Address Reasons To Build Rapport & Relationships To Discuss Importance of Attendance To Show School Site Really Cares… To PREVENT NEED FOR SARB!!

SART-THE MOST IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE MEETING COMMON CHALLENGES Getting Parents & Students to Attend SART Hosting Individual SARTs vs. Group SARTs Staffing of SARTs Providing Resources, Services, & Interventions Utilizing Contracts Following Up with Families

Who Can Help Families in Tier 3? Community schools Family liaisons School integrated service teams IEP/504 teams Community mental health services Family resource centers School-based health centers McKinney Vento representatives Public agencies Who would you add to this list? You can tailor this list to your audience.

Examples of Tier 3 Interventions FEN Examples of Tier 3 Interventions Case Management & Wrap-Around Services Referral to SARB & SARB Meeting SARB Contract & Additional Support Services Referral to D.A. Truancy Mediation Court Intervention

OVERALL SARB Process LETTERS Notifications of Truancy OR FEN OVERALL SARB Process LETTERS Notifications of Truancy OR Notifications of Excessive Excused Absences CONFERENCES: SART SARB DA Mediation  Potential Prosecution

Legal Action & Filing A Case? FEN Legal Action & Filing A Case? Remember, the DA’s Office Can Prosecute Only for Unexcused Absences. District Can Send Letters, SART and SARB for Excused Absences. No Laws Regarding Excessive Excused Absences So We Do Not Have to Wait to Send Letters and Bring These Families in to Talk. Best Practice – Consider Excused and Unexcused Absences for SARB Process PARALLEL TRACKS…

SARB MEETING Overview SARB GOALS A ROBUST PANEL = KEY TO SUCCESS FEN SARB MEETING Overview SARB GOALS IMPACT ON FAMILIES – “Wow” Factor BREADTH OF PERSPECTIVES BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES TONE: Friendly, Congenial, More Formal A ROBUST PANEL = KEY TO SUCCESS

THE SARB PANEL – E.C. 48321(b)(1) FEN SARB MEETING Overview THE SARB PANEL – E.C. 48321(b)(1) Parent School District Rep County Welfare Dept. Rep County School Superintendent Rep Law Enforcement Rep Community Based Youth Services Rep School Guidance Personnel Rep CWA Personnel School or County Health Care Personnel Mental Health Rep. (School, County, Community) District Attorney’s Office Rep Anyone Else You Feel May Help College Student?, Alumni?, Mentoring Program? Probation?, Community Leader?, Business Person?

Winning the Cause! The CAUSE vs. The CASE… How to WIN THE CAUSE? FEN Winning the Cause! The CAUSE vs. The CASE… 2014-2015; 2015-2016 Approx. 20 Misdemeanors Filed Countywide Hundreds of Citations Each Year Countywide WE LOSE THE CAUSE EACH TIME WE FILE A CASE How to WIN THE CAUSE? Helping Families Overcome Barriers SERVICES, SERVICES, SERVICES!! EARLY & OFTEN

SARB CONTRACT: SERVICES FEN SARB CONTRACT: SERVICES SUPPORT SERVICES OFFERED TO ADDRESS ABSENCES & TRUANCIES  Attend Parenting Classes / Parenting Program offered at:___,on ______. Saturday School at ___on: __, (one session clears one unexcused absence). Illness Verification Through School Staff/Health Clerk/School Nurse Tutoring located at:_____, starting on:_____________ until_________. After School Program located at:__, starting on:__________ until______. Make up classes for unexcused absences located at:________, on:______. Appointment with School Counselor:____, to address:_____. at:___, on:__. Appointment with School Resource Officer:__to address:__, at:__, on:___. Regarding bullying:____________________________________________. Online student monitoring system; __No computer access, alternative:___. School/Class Schedule changed as follows:_______________. Alternative Education as follows:_______________. Alternative School Placement as follows: _______________. Other Services Offered: _(Transportation Plan??)__***CASE SPECIFIC

Prosecution – Consequences FEN Prosecution – Consequences MISDEMEANORS: 1ST through 8th Grade Only (Possibly K if Student is 6 all year) 10% + Unexcused Absences / CHRONIC TRUANT & SARB Process Followed & Sufficient Services Offered CITATIONS: 1ST Through 8th Grade with Less than 10% Unexcused 9th Grade and Above Citations Only: Higher Standard Standard: Parents Clearly At Fault / Not Reasonable Helpful if Younger Siblings Show Same Pattern Services Still Required

Prosecution & SERVICES FEN Prosecution & SERVICES SERVICES REQUIRED BY LAW: ELEMENTS Explained… ELEMENTS OF P.C. 270.1 K – 8th (K, Must Be 6 Entire School Year) Chronic Truant Per E.C. 48263.6 Parent Failed To Reasonably Supervise/Encourage Attendance Language Accessible SERVICES To Address Truancy Max. Punishment: Fine Up To $2,000 & 1 Year Jail DON’T WAIT, EARLY INTERVENTION WORKS BEST!

Model SARB District Alvord Unified FEN Model SARB District Alvord Unified 19,255 ADA 5 HS, 4 MS, 14 ES EL-37%, SPED-10.32%, low SES-79% Alvord A-Team-Attendance, Attitude, Achievement Highly qualified SARB panel Support Services-counseling, tutoring, transportation assistance with a bike program, health staff, Saturday school, mental health support, food and clothing help

Model SARB District Banning Unified FEN Model SARB District Banning Unified 4939 ADA 2 HS, 1 MS, 4ES EL -19% SPED-11.6% low SES-90% Challenges-poverty Beefed up support staff/Strong SARB panel Support Services-MTSS facilitators for each tier, bilingual Parent Outreach Consultant, PD for support staff, BUSST (Banning Unified Student Services Team), All Day/Everyday Attendance campaign, $250 per classroom

Model SARB District Hemet Unified FEN Model SARB District Hemet Unified 22,000 ADA 5 HS, 4 MS, 3 k-8, 9 k-5 EL-14%, SPED-14%, low SES 80% Challenges-) high crime neighborhood areas and lack of awareness by parents of compulsory education laws, and failure to place education as a priority Supports-transportation routing (safe passage routes, working with property managers, PBIS, restorative justice program, data review

Model SARB District Riverside Unified FEN Model SARB District Riverside Unified ADA 43,000 8 HS, 8 MS, 31 ES EL-17%, SPED-11%, low SES- 61% Challenges-Anxiety, Access to Health Care, Student Engagement, Health issues, Lack of Credits, Transiency, Homelessness Supports-MTSS, Student Assistance Program, Family Resource Center, Youth Accountability Team, Staff Development, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Restorative Practices

How Can You Fund Your Attendance Initiative? FEN How Can You Fund Your Attendance Initiative? Attendance initiatives (in CA) should be funded with LCFF funds and delineated in the goals and actions of your LCAP. Attendance falls under Priority 5: Pupil engagement, as measured by all of the following, as applicable: a. School attendance rates. b. Chronic absenteeism rates. c. Middle school dropout rates, as described in paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 52052.1. d. High school dropout rates. e. High school graduation rates Title I can also be used to fund attendance tasks

Funding Options Discussion FEN Funding Options Discussion Discuss with an elbow partner.. How are you funding attendance initiatives in your district/school?

Chronic Absence is Like a Warning Light on Your Car Dashboard The Parallels: Ignore it at your personal peril! Address early or potentially pay more (lots more) later. The key is to ask why is this blinking? What could this mean?

FEN RESOURCES www.attendanceworks.org http://www.attendanceworks.org/research/portraits-of-change/ Absenteeism & Truancy: Interventions and Universal Procedures Paperback – 2013  Ph.D William Jenson , Ph.D Randy Sprick , M.S Jessica Sprick  http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ai/sb/sarbhandbook.asp https://oag.ca.gov/truancy (“In School and On Track”)

Comments / Questions? Dr. Susan Levine Amir Alavi FEN Comments / Questions? Dr. Susan Levine Director of Pupil and Administrative Services (PAS) Riverside County Office of Education (951) 826-6448, slevine@rcoe.us Amir Alavi Deputy District Attorney, Crime Prevention Unit Countywide SARB Coordinator & Prosecutor (858) 722-9992 – cell, amiralavi@rivcoda.org Get CCR; Review Fines; Print out copies; Agenda Overview Re: LCAP priorities; SARB Panel