1. Student Attendance policy A summary of main changes and an outline of new responses available to schools and regions. May 2011 Behaviour and Wellbeing Branch Student Services

2. Regular attendance at schools is fundamental to student learning. On average, public school students in Western Australia attend school 91 per cent of the time. This means that, while the majority of children attend school regularly, it is also the case that many students attend school less than 90 per cent of the time. While the majority of children who miss school do so for legitimate reasons, such as illness, it is also concerning that 36 per cent of absences are unexplained. From the Minister for Education

3. Presentation overview Rationale for change Summary Better attendance: Brighter futures strategy The policy Dealing with persistent non-attendance The guidelines documents Further information

4. Rationale for change The introduction of education networks and regions, supporting greater decision making and autonomy for principals A need to streamline processes relating to the management of persistent non-attendance, described in the Department’s Better attendance: Brighter futures strategy Availability of new legislation enabling the use of Responsible Parenting Agreements and Orders

5. Irregular attendance comes at a real cost to each student’s education and seriously jeopardises their future opportunities. For some communities, there is also a significant cost in terms of anti-social behaviour. From the Minister for Education

6. Summary of changes Clarification of record keeping and reporting requirements Link to Standardised Leave Passes Links to resources to support case management (e.g. Improving Attendance: A Resource Package for Schools) Reference to system requirements (e.g. Attendance Audit and Documented Plans for Aboriginal Students) Flowchart Incorporation of current processes to support Year 11 and 12 students (Participation Coordinators) A requirement to consult with a relevant network or regional officer rather than a referral to District Attendance Coordinator Template letter from principal to parent advising of consultation with network or regional officer

7. Summary of changes (cont…) Introduction of the Formal Meeting, largely replacing the attendance panel process. Initiated by the principal using a template letter to parents Responsible Parenting Agreements and Orders Removal of the School Attendance Panel policy Guidelines documents:  Guidelines for the use of education-related Responsible Parenting Agreements  Guidelines for the use of education-related Responsible Parenting Orders  Guidelines for the use of attendance panels  Guidelines for the use of prosecution Principal may recommend legal action to the Regional Executive Director. Prosecution of the parent or an application for an Order remain actions of last resort to engage a parent

8. Parents who make regular attendance a priority are also helping their children to value learning and to accept responsibility. These are important lessons for life. From the Minister for Education

9. Better attendance: Brighter futures A nine point plan to address the issue of poor school attendance Element six of the plan involves ‘supporting parents to take responsibility for their child’s attendance at school’ ‘Where all supportive strategies have been tried, the Department will use its authority to more formally engage parents with the support and services they need to improve the situation and take decisive action to prosecute parents if it is warranted.’ Element 6, Better attendance: Brighter futures

10. The policy Spend some time looking through the policy The policy is supported by a range of resources, including four new guidelines documents Significant changes have been made in the way schools and regions can respond to persistent non-attendance

11. Dealing with non-attendance 4.2 Outlines the steps the school must take in response to non-attendance, including: requesting explanations from parents or responsible persons; arrangements with alternative providers; documented plans for Aboriginal students; children whose whereabouts are unknown; and where attendance is <90%, the need to investigate further, meet with parents and document plans for improvement.

12. Dealing with persistent non-attendance 4.2.1 Outlines the steps the school must take in response to persistent non-attendance, where repeated attempts to work with the parents have not been successful. The steps involve: consulting with an appropriate network or regional officer/s; informing the parent of the consultation; and revising any attendance improvement plan developed.

13. Formal meeting 4.2.2 Outlines the process to request the parent attends a formal meeting. A template letter is provided for the principal to send to the parent. At the formal meeting, the principal or nominee will: ensure any factors preventing attendance are explored; request the parent engages with strategies to improve attendance; and document a formal attendance improvement plan

14. Prosecution and Responsible Parenting Orders 4.2.3 Outlines the processes the principal must follow where: a formal meeting has been unable to secure parental engagement and improvement in attendance (or engagement in another educational program); and it is determined that either the prosecution of the parent or application for a Responsible Parenting Order is appropriate

15. Prosecution and Responsible Parenting Orders (cont…) If the principal decides to refer the matter: a referral is completed and forwarded to the Regional Executive Director. If the Regional Executive Director endorses the recommendation, he or she will refer to the appropriate guideline document/s in order to: inform the principal and the parent of the outcome; and facilitate the required process.

16. Guidelines documents Guidelines for the use of education-related Responsible Parenting Agreements Guidelines for the use of education-related Responsible Parenting Orders Guidelines for the use of attendance panels Guidelines for the use of prosecution

17. Guidelines for the use of education-related Responsible Parenting Agreements

18. Responsible Parenting Agreements A formal agreement between an officer of the Department of Education and a parent to work together to improve the behaviour or school attendance of a child or young person. The Departments for Child Protection and Corrective Services may also use Responsible Parenting Agreements to improve anti-social behaviour or tackle criminal behaviour. Parental Support and Responsibility Act 2008 Child must be <15 years of age

19. Guidelines for the use of education-related Responsible Parenting Orders

20. Responsible Parenting Orders An order issued by the Children’s Court of WA that requires a parent to work with an officer of the Department of Education or another service to improve the school attendance or behaviour of their child or young person. Responsible Parenting Orders:  compel a parent(s) to take up the support offered by agencies  compel parent(s) to meet their responsibilities in exercising appropriate control over their child's anti-social, offending or persistent non-attendance at school.  are an action of last resort The Departments for Child Protection and Corrective Services may also use Responsible Parenting Orders to improve anti-social behaviour or tackle criminal behaviour.

21. Guidelines for the use of prosecution

22. Prosecution Prosecution may be an appropriate course of action in circumstances where the parent is judged as capable of securing their child’s regular attendance but is not willing to take responsibility for doing so $1000 penalty Action of last resort Previous policy required the matter to be referred to an attendance panel in the first instance – this is not a requirement of the School Education Act 1999

23. Guidelines for the use of attendance panels

24. Attendance panels The School Attendance Panel policy has been removed Most procedures relating to attendance panels are prescribed by the School Education Act 1999 In most instances a formal meeting initiated by the school after many efforts to engage the parent in case management will replace this process

25. Further information Linda Markovic Principal Consultant, Attendance and Enrolment Behaviour and Wellbeing Branch Student Services T: 9264 8939 E: linda.markovic@det.wa.edu.aulinda.markovic@det.wa.edu.au