Calhoun ISD Compulsory School Attendance Act

The Calhoun Intermediate School District Attendance Officer has the ultimate responsibility for enforcing the Compulsory Attendance Act and to inform you of your responsibilities for the education of your child(ren). The state law is briefly explained below for your information:

P.A. 451 of 1977 (amended by P.A. 43 of 1977) MCL 380.1561 - 380.1599

Section 1561: (1)... every parent, guardian, or other person in this state having control and charge of a child from the age of 6 to the child's sixteenth birthday, shall send that child to the public schools during the entire school year (except if enrolled in an approved non-public school). The child's attendance shall be continuous and consecutive for the schoolyear fixed by the school district in which the child is enrolled.

Section 1571: (1) The Intermediate School Board shall select 1 or more persons to act as attendance officers for the ISD.

(3) An attendance officer of an ISD or a local school district shall have the powers of a deputy sheriff within the district or ISD while performing official duties. An ISD Attendance Officer shall perform the duties of the officer in each constituent district in which the local board does not employ an attendance officer.

Section 1586: Requires the ISD Attendance Officer to investigate each case of non-attendance as referred by local school districts.

Section 1587: If a parent/guardian fails to comply with the Compulsory School Attendance Act, the ISD Attendance Officer shall give written notice by registered mail to parent/guardian requiring the child to appear in attendance on the next regular school day following receipt of the written notice. Failure to comply with this notice will be reported by appropriate local school official.

Section 1588: If the parent/guardian fails to comply with the above notice, the attendance officer shall make a complaint against parent/guardian in District court (educational neglect) or Probate Court/Juvenile Division (truancy) in the county of residence for refusal or neglect to send the child to school. Court action will follow the same manner as is provided for other cases under its jurisdiction.

Section 1599: A parent/guardian who fails to comply with the above is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $50 or imprisonment for not more than 90 days, or both.

Since your student has not been in regular attendance, the ISD Attendance Officer must determine if this is for legitimate reasons, truancy or educational neglect. We hope to work in cooperation with you in resolving this matter and encourage you to see that your student attends school regularly. We urge you to make every effort to work with your local school officials and avoid any unnecessary court case at the Intermediate School District level.

Calhoun ISD Administrative Rules/Regulations

Attendance Officer

Statutory Authority: PA 451 of 1977 (am PA 43 of 1977)

380.1561 - 380.1599

Purpose:

To supplement the efforts of our local districts in enforcing the Compulsory School Attendance Act. Based on age of student, number of days absent, related problems and inability to resolve the problem locally, the local districts will refer students to Calhoun Intermediate School District Attendance Officer.

Before making a referral, a local school district shall:

1. Make initial contact with parent/guardian and child

2. Review days absent (total and patterns)

3. Attempt to meet with parent, child and building officials to:

determine cause of absences
review procedures if referred to ISD
work cooperatively with parent/guardian for remedy
refer to appropriate counselor if available
develop a student contract

Possible counseling resources:

school counselor
building principal
teacher
school social worker or psychologist, if necessary
outside community agency

If all of above fails, the child should be referred to Calhoun Intermediate School District using appropriate form.

County Attendance Officer Process:

1. Upon referral from LEA; AO will:

review action at local level (stated in the referral)
review attendance report attached referral form
contact parent/guardian (phone if possible)
work with school to arrange parent conference at school building

2. First written communication to parent/guardian (attendance referral form)

send by regular mail with copy to school
violation of C.S.A.A. form used
if student has not returned within one week (of receipt of the above),
ISD should be notified by school building designee

3. Second form sent to parent/guardian (violation notice)

send via certified mail
follow-up asking for cooperation versus court referral
copy to school
may set up meeting with -

1)parent

2)student (optional)*

3)school official

4)attendance officer

- attachment: Excerpts from C.S.A.A.

* (signed student contract for attendance and school support could be obtained)

4. If above fails, file:

a. Truancy - Probate/Juvenile Court

b. Educational Neglect - Prosecutor's Office

c. Delinquency

Suggestions From Juvenile Court

Important information to gather prior to making an attendance referral:

Why is the student not attending school?

What is going on in the family home?

Working history of parent(s)?

Attendance history of siblings?

Special Education qualified or evaluation attempted?

Student/parent/family attitudes?

Student’s residential status?

Any counseling interventions?

Any other court intervention or convictions?