Wlaf1450The state of Tennessee has adopted a new attendance policy for the 2018-19 school year.
At a meeting last night at Campbell County High School, officials explained the new policy and their approach to it. Officials with the school system said they will still work with students when medical and other absences arise. All students get five parent notes per year and doctors’ notes. Excuses have to be turned in within five days of an absence. (UPDATED 08/24/2018-1PM)
Ben Foust, assistant principal at Campbell County High School, explained the state’s new attendance policy at a meeting last night. All school systems in the state must follow the policy, he said.
Absences will now be on a tiered level with each tier bringing a higher level of consequences. The first tier, which is met when a student misses three days, results in a meeting at the school. Five days out will bring the student to the second tier in which they must meet with the county attendance officer.
TOP PHOTO: Information is available at each school and central office about the new tiered attendance policy.
Additional absences will result in a referral to the Department of Children’s Services, according to the new policy. The fourth tier lands a student in juvenile court and absences be referred to the district attorney’s office when the fifth tier is reached.
Officials plan to host another meeting to help parents understand the policy.
HERE IS THE POLICY:
CAMPBELL COUNTY PROGRESSIVE TRUANCY INTERVENTIONS
TN CODE ANNOTATED: 49-6-3007 Effective July 1, 2018
Tier 1: Intervention is initiated at three (3) Unexcused Absences and/or five (5) tardies, dismissals and/or a combination of the two will consist of the following:
a. Written notice and/or a phone call (which will be documented) to parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) at three (3) Unexcused absences by the principal designee.
b. A conference with the parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) and student will be given an appointment time between 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and/ or designated time at the student’s school or designated public location to discuss reasons why the student has been absent. The conference will include the principal and/or designee.
- Parent hand written notes will be written at this time if notes have not been previously turned into the school attendance personnel.
2. An intervention attendance contract with Campbell County Board of Education will be signed by the parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) and the student.
3. If the parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) and student do NOT attend the Tier 1 conference or if Tier 1 is unsuccessful Tier 2 is triggered.
Tier2: Intervention is initiated at five (5) unexcused absences and additional tardies, dismissals and a combination of tardies and dismissals will consist of the following:
a. Written notice to parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) at five (5) Unexcused absences by the principal’s designee.
b. Remaining hand written parent notes will be written at this time, if hand written notes have not been previously turned into the school attendance personnel.
c. A conference with the parents and/or legal guardians and student will be given an appointment time between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. at the student’s school or designated public location.
d. A team consisting of, but not limited to one or more of the following will be present. - Principal, assistant principal, special education personnel and/or teacher(s)
2. School nurse and/or coordinated school health
3. Athletic coaches, club leaders and etc.
4. SRO’s
5. Special Education manifestation personnel
6. Attendance personnel of attendance records in ASPEN
7. Mentors
8. Nancy Leach (Campbell County Board of Education Attendance)
9. Juvenile Family Court Liaison
10. Etc.
If the parent(s) and /or legal guardian(s) and student do Not attend the Tier 2 conference or if Tier 2 is unsuccessful Tier 3 is triggered.
Tier 3: Intervention is initiated by additional Unexcused absences and/or Tier 2 is unsuccessful.
a. Written notice by Campbell County Board of Education to parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) and student to attend Judge Amanda Sammon’s Pre-Court Disciplinary Board between 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. or designated time at a designated location.
b. Legal contract of the juvenile courts will be signed by parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) and student.
c. Referrals to other agencies will be established as follows to support the parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) to comply with the Campbell County and Tennessee Attendance Policy: - Department of Children (DCS) and Family Support Services (FSS)
2. Youth Service Officer with Juvenile Court
3. Private practice counselors: Camelot, OMNI Care, Ridgeview, Youth Villages and etc.
4. Private practice Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants and Nurses
5. Campbell County Health Department
6. CAJI, ETHRA, and other agencies
7. County Sheriff and/or city police departments
8. Etc. - Pre- Petition to Campbell County Juvenile Court with the Honorable Judge Amanda Sammons
e. If the parent(s) and /or legal guardian(s) and student do Not attend the Tier 3 conference or if Tier 3 is unsuccessful Tier 4 is triggered.
Tier 4: Intervention is initiated by additional Unexcused absences and /or Tier 3 is unsuccessful.
a. Petition to Juvenile Court. The parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) and student will be served a petition and summons to juvenile court.
b. At the judge’s discretion , may access the following, but not limited to,
1. Adjudicated to be unruly
2. Fines up to $ 50.00 per day of unexcused absences
3. Community service (up to five (5) hours per unexcused absence) for the parents and/or legal guardians and/ or the student at the judge’s discretion
4. Place student into Tennessee State’s Custody
Tier 5: Intervention is initiated by additional Unexcused absences and /or if Tier 4 is unsuccessful.
a. The case will be referred to the District Attorney General’s office for Criminal Prosecution of the parents and /or guardians.
Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 49-6-3009:
1. Any parent, guardian, or other person who has control of a child and who violates this part commits educational neglect, which is a Class C Misdemeanor.
2. Each day’s unlawful absence constitutes a separate offense.
(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/24/2018-6AM)