It will surprise many parents that, in fact, their student(s) are considered chronic absent, truant, or both.
Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing more than 10% of instructional time for any reason, excused or unexcused.
Brenda Payton, in her article in the San Francisco Chronicle on April 22, 2012, revealed that some of the highest rates of absenteeism occur in kindergarten and first grade.
Teresa Drenick, Alameda County deputy district attorney and the architect of the Alameda County Truancy Referral Program, states, “There is a direct line between chronic absenteeism in elementary school, falling behind, not being able to keep up in Junior High, and drop-out rates in high school”.
Drenick goes on to say, “ When you read the probation reports of juveniles and adults convicted of criminal activity, the common denominator is the lack of education”.
The most telling and shocking statistic is how the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation determines how many beds it will need in the future.
According to Superior Court Judge Gloria Rhynes, it is third grade truancy rates! Yes, the prison system analyzes school attendance rates of third graders to decide how many will end up in prison!
Newark Unified School Districts believes students with poor attendance or behavior issues need quick and effective action to reverse the trend of truancy and dropping away from school. The NUSD School Attendance Review Board (SARB) process is a systematic, collaborative approach to meeting the needs of students with school attendance or school behavior problems. SARBS are one of the tools we use to provide school and community leaders with intensive guidance to meet the needs of students with attendance problems in school. At Newark Unified School District we want to build a college going culture, one where students have multiple educational options when they graduate. That starts with on time attendance, every day. By identifying attendance concerns at an early stage, we can assist students and families with these problems before they escalate.
Truant students and their parents are notified via letters of their student’s truancy or behavior pattern. They participate in initial truancy meetings in hopes of reversing the behavior. When these initial steps do not curb tardies or absences, the parents and student are scheduled for a School Attendance Review Board hearing. At this hearing, both parents and students are made aware of the importance of attending all classes and sign a contract which must be followed and will be enforced by NUSD staff. As a last resort, the student is referred to the District Attorney as a truant and enters the court system.
Consistent attendance is critical to student learning. So, as we begin the 2012-2013 school year, I’ll see you at school, in class. Every day, on time!
Dave Marken, Ed.D.
Superintendent
