1. Washtenaw County School Justice Partnership
11/6/2017
Truancy Protocol
Washtenaw County School Justice Partnership
Year One Report
August 3, 2016

2. School Justice Partnership
Michigan School Justice Partnership created in 2013 by:
Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice
Michigan Council of Crime and Delinquency
Michigan Department of Education
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services
Michigan Supreme Court
State Court Administrative Office
University of Michigan Law School, School of Education and School of Social Work
Goal: Reduce the School to Prison Pipeline
School Justice Partnership
8/11/2016

3. Washtenaw School Justice Partnership
Washtenaw School Justice Partnership Convened November 2013
Co-Chairs: Scott Menzel, WISD & Judge Darlene O’Brien
Members:
Board Members, WISD & YCS
Community Action Network
Community Members
Community Mental Health
County Attendance Officer
Department of Health and Human Services
Dispute Resolution Center
EMU School of Social Work
Juvenile Court – Administration & Probation
Ozone House
Principal, Skyline High School
Prosecutor
School Social Worker, WISD
Sheriff
Student Advocacy Center
Superintendents, Lincoln and YCS
Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth
Washtenaw School Justice Partnership
8/11/2016

4. Washtenaw School Justice Partnership
GOAL: To develop and implement a local partnership and strategies to keep children in school and out of court and subsequent incarceration.
Adopted State SJP objectives with some modifications:
State SJP Tactical Objectives
Reduce truancy rates by 5%
Reduce school expulsion by 10%
Reduce out-of-school suspensions by 10%
Washtenaw SJP Objectives
Reduce chronic absenteeism (10% or more days, excused or unexcused)
Reduce out of school suspension and non-mandatory expulsions buy 5%; decrease disproportionality
Increase and strengthen partnership between parents, communities and schools
Washtenaw School Justice Partnership
8/11/2016

5. Pending Michigan Legislation
Definitions: .
Truancy = 10 unexcused absences
Chronically Absent = 10% of possible school days absent (for any reason)**
** Michigan Department of Education currently
defines chronic absenteeism as missing 10
school days for any reason.
Pending Michigan Legislation
8/11/2016

6. Initial Washtenaw SJP Action Plan
Activities:
Gather baseline data
Map out current practices
Review state law
Advocate for changes in law and policy
Recommend a process that focuses on a non-criminal, restorative approach
Professional development
Pilot in Lincoln and Ypsilanti but encourage participation by all districts
Initial Washtenaw SJP Action Plan
8/11/2016

7. 2014-15 Chronic Absenteeism by District
MDE Data – chronic absenteeism defined as 10 absences
8/11/2016

8. 2014-15 Chronic Absenteeism by District
Data under review
Chronic Absenteeism by District
MDE Data – chronic absenteeism defined as 10 absences
8/11/2016

9. 2014-15 Chronic Absenteeism all Washtenaw County
MDE Data – chronic absenteeism defined as 10 absences
8/11/2016

10. Truancy Protocol Development
Over summer 2015
Obtained feedback from school and youth stakeholders
Coordinated response with court diversion program
Presentations of Protocol and Communication Kit
Local School Truancy Contacts
High School Principals & Elementary School Principals Groups
Ypsilanti Community Schools: Administrative Team & Community Liaisons
Ann Arbor Public School – Truancy Work Group & Pathways Principal
Lincoln Consolidated Schools High School and Middle School Principals
Ann Arbor / Ypsilanti Regional Chamber Leadership A2Y
Washtenaw Alliance for Children and Youth Leadership Team
Juvenile Probation Officers
Coordinate with development of Early Warning System
Connect with public resources: DHHS Prevention, CMH, Law Enforcement
Enhanced and Aligned Court’s Truancy Diversion Program
Truancy Protocol Development
8/11/2016

11. Communication Tool Kit
Absenteeism Protocol
Quick Checklist
Truancy Reporting Portal
Sample Parent Notification Forms and Letters
Research / Resources
Communication Tool Kit
8/11/2016

12. Absenteeism Protocol Quick Guide – Year One
Level
Threshold
Key Contact
Required Intervention
Level 1
5 days unexcused
Social Worker / Counselor / Lead Teacher / Truancy Contact
Call / Text Parent
Student Meeting
Incentives
Level 2
10 days absent
Building Administrator
Letter Home
Parent Meeting
Level 3
15 days
District Administrator
Academic / Social Evaluations
Community Resources (court referral?)
District Truancy hearing / Restorative Circle
Truancy Portal – WISD Notification
Level 4
> 15 days
WISD Truancy Officer
WISD Truancy Hearing / Circle
Level 5
Persists
Prosecutor thru WISD
N / A
8/11/2016

13. Absenteeism Referrals 9/1/2015 – 6/30/2016
Elementary
Middle School
High School
Total
Ann Arbor 5 10 36 51
Chelsea 1
Dexter 2
Lincoln
Manchester
Milan
Saline 4 8
Whitmore Lake 3
WAVE/Forest 9
Ypsilanti 15
Charters/Other
TOTAL 21 27 58
106
8/11/2016

14. Washtenaw County School Justice Partnership
11/6/2017
Case Management Approach – Year One
County Staffing: WISD - Attendance Officer .5 FTE **Partnered with district staff
Court - Program Manager .5 FTE Court - Case Managers FTE
Warning Letter from Court Sent to Parents / School Official Copied
8/11/2016
August 3, 2016

15. Root Cause Themes Case Management Approach – Year One 43% 33%
Average Number of Days Missed in Current School Year at Time of Referral
33%
Students Receiving Special Education
Root Cause Themes
8/11/2016

16. Restorative Case Management Services
Every Case is Unique *supported by MSU research study
Time Intensive
Out of the Box Solutions are Required
Partnership is Essential
Different Perspectives
Different Resources
Ability to Connect and Build Relationships with Families
Lessons Learned
8/11/2016

17. District Absenteeism Contacts
Truancy Team
District
Contacts
Ann Arbor
Stacey Mack
Jeff Nzoma
Derrick Padgett
Terra Webster
Chelsea
Dennis Strzyzewski
Beth Starkey
Luman Strong
Dexter
Lincoln
Patricia Dahl
Jeffrey Petzak
Regina Winborn
Manchester
Cherie Vannatter
Milan
Janet Martin
Saline
Carol Melcher
Laura Washington
Whitmore Lake
Linda Lupi
Ypsilanti
Isaiah Daniels
Alex Easley
Laura Frey-Greathouse
Barbara Malcolm
District Absenteeism Contacts
8/11/2016

18. Year Two Enhancements Modification of Protocol - Condense Levels
Adopt Case Flow Standards and Timelines
Focused Response in Communities with Highest Density of Need
Dedicated Court Caseworkers / Interns
Building Partnerships with Service Providers
DHHS Prevention Services
Family Innovations
Latino Youth Connection
Washtenaw County CMH
Joint Level IV Case Management Meeting Prosecution
Year Two Enhancements
8/11/2016

19. Level I: 5 days of school missed
Meet with student and explore root causes, stress importance of attendance
Contact parent and document on Parent Communication Log
Consider additional support that may be needed (mental health, homeless liaison, etc.)
Celebrate any improvements
Level II: days of school missed
Send letter and informational/fact sheet to parents/guardians/caretakers
Schedule a building level facilitated meeting and develop an agreement that all parties sign to improve attendance.
Determine if other screenings or evaluations should be conducted (mental health, special education, remediation and/or tutoring). Connect with outside resources where applicable.
Celebrate improvements in attendance.
Level III: days of school missed
(10% of possible days = chronic absence)
Refer to WISD Attendance Officer and Juvenile Court through Truancy Portal. Attendance Office will hold a county level meeting with the family, student, advocate, county court, building/district staff and other family supports present. An attendance plan will be developed and adhered to.
Notice of requirement to ensure child’s attendance is given to parents.
Failure to attend this meeting or continued persistent absences / failure to follow attendance contract will result in a referral to the Prosecutor’s Office.
Level IV: Persistent absenteeism beyond Level III Intervention
Referral will be made to the Prosecutor’s Office and consideration given to district court educational-neglect charges.
Note about recurring absenteeism: Number of days missed can carry over into a new school year. Students who were chronically absent at the end of one school year should be considered for early building level intervention and referral to County Attendance Officer and Juvenile Court as soon as the absenteeism pattern reemerges.
For more information:
Quick Checklist for Absenteeism Protocol - Proposed Revision for Year Two
8/11/2016

20. Case Flow School Refers Through Portal Short Phone Conference
Family Attends Wraparound Meeting?
Parent ordered to participate?
Yes No
Case Management, Monitoring, Review Meetings
Notice Sent with 2nd meeting date (MCL ;1587)
Satisfactory Improvement
Yes
Police Report and Referral to Prosecutor No
Year End/Transition Meeting
Parent Charged in District Court?
Case Flow
END
Yes No
8/11/2016

21. Focused Response in Three Pilot Districts with Highest Density of Need – Modifications to Fit Community Needs and Resources
Ann Arbor Public Schools
Lincoln Consolidated Schools
Ypsilanti Community Schools
Lighter Touch / Standard Application of Protocol in Other Communities
Pilot Communities
8/11/2016

22.
8/11/2016