Truancy Prevention

Truancy Intervention Program Guidelines for Schools

Primary Objective:  To work cooperatively with schools and families to reduce and eliminate chronic truancy, therefore increasing student attendance resulting in greater student achievement. The Truancy Intervention Program focuses on the use of early intervention strategies.

Mandatory Attendance: ILCS Section 26-1 mandates that all children between the ages of 6 and 17 attend school. ILCS also mandates that all children enroll in school (regardless of age) and attend school while it is session.

Truant: ILCS Section 26-2a Defines a truant as a child subject to compulsory attendance who is absent without valid cause (unexcused absences) on a given school day or portion.

Valid Cause: Illness, observance of religious holiday, death in immediate family, family emergency, and other situations beyond control of the student as determined by the school district, or other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent for the safety or health of the student.

Chronic Truant: A child subject to compulsory attendance who is absent without valid cause for 5% or more of the previous 180 school days (9 or more unexcused absences in the past 180 days)

Pre-Referral Actions

Prior to a referral to the ROE #12 Right Track Truancy Program, ISBE recommends that at least (3), and State Law requires at least (2) intervention attempts by the school to address attendance issues. These should be documented since dates and intervention types are required on referral forms. Some examples of appropriate attendance interventions are as follows (not all-inclusive):

• Conversations/conferences with student and/or parent
• Phone calls home to discuss attendance
• Attendance concern letters
• School Staffing regarding student and attendance concerns
• Student meetings with counselor/school interventionist
• Home Visits
• Referral to social service agency(ies)
• Attendance incentives/contracts

Referral Process and Procedure

Initial Referral (TRACK 1) (SCHOOL INTERVENTION) (recommended 5-7 unexcused absences)

1. Student not making adequate progress after minimum of 3 school interventions
2. School has fully completed the Track 1 Referral Form (referral, attendance, etc.)
3. School will provide any and all supporting documentation needed (grades, discipline, etc.) to the ROE Truancy Officer when requested.
4. Regional Superintendent’s Office sends out initial truancy referral notification to parent/guardian
5. ROE Truancy Officer/Interventionist will be assigned
6. ROE will send out truancy notice to parent/guardian setting up a meeting with the ROE Truancy Officer and School Personnel (principal, attendance liaison, teacher(s), social worker, nurse, SRO, etc.) This meeting will be conducted at the site of the referring school.
7. Individualized Service plan and School Intervention/Attendance Contract will be signed by student and/or parent/legal guardian.
8. Social Services and other forms of interventions may be provided on a case-by-case basis.

Second Referral (TRACK 2) (TRUANCY REVIEW BOARD) (minimum of 9 unexcused absences) 

1. Student not making adequate progress after the Initial Referral and interventions and has accumulated at least 9 full days of unexcused absences within the past 180 school attendance days.
2. School has fully completed and submitted Track 2 Referral Form (with up-to-date attendance)
3. School will provide any and all supporting documentation needed (grades, discipline, etc.) to the ROE Truancy Officer when requested.
4. ROE #12 Truancy Office will send out second truancy notice/summons to parent/guardian informing them they must attend the next scheduled Truancy Review Board Hearing that is scheduled within their county. (These hearings are pre-arranged on certain days of the month per county)
5. Truancy Review Board will take place within 30 days of referral being made to ROE #12 Truancy Office.
6. Notice will be provided to all Truancy Review Board Members with Time and Date of Hearing.
7. ROE Truancy Officer will complete an Individualized Service Plan/Truancy Review Board Attendance agreement.
8. Once referred to the ROE for Truancy Review Board ad student should have appropriate medical documentation required to excuse future absences.

Third Referral (TRACK 3) (REQUEST FOR FILING OF CHARGES BY STATES ATTORNEY)

(minimum 9 unexcused absences)

1. Student has not made adequate progress after Track 1 and Track 2 referrals and has accumulated at least 9 full days of unexcused absences within the past 180 school attendance days.
2. Student has accumulated more unexcused absences since date of Truancy Review Board Hearing
3. School has fully completed and submitted Track 3 Referral
4. School will provide any and all supporting documentation needed (grades, discipline, etc.) to the ROE Truancy Officer when requested.
5. ROE #12 Truancy Office will contact County States Attorney’s Office.
6. ROE #12 Truancy Office will prepare formal Request to File Truancy Petition with States Attorney
7. State’s Attorney’s Office takes court action for neglect-related issue (on discretionary basis)
8. Each county court (and judge) determines their own criteria and approach for Truancy Petitions and they do vary from case-to-case and county-to-county.

*NOTE – Please know that just because a Request to File a Truancy Petition with the States Attorney has been submitted, does not mean the States Attorney will file charges against student/parent/legal guardian.

Truancy Review Board Meetings - Call 618.943.3522 For Information - Schedules Posted Here

Clay County
Flora City Hall, City Council Chambers, Flora, Illinois - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Crawford County
ROE 12 PD Training Center, 300 West Main Street, Second Floor, Robinson, Illinois - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Jasper County
Jasper County Office Building, County Board Room, 204 West Washington, Newton, Illinois - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Lawrence County
Lawrence County Courthouse, County Board Room, First Floor, Lawrenceville, Illinois - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Richland County
Richland County Detention Center, County Board Room, Olney, Illinois - 9:00 am to 12:00 pm