Truancy Protocol Washtenaw County School Justice Partnership Year

Truancy Protocol Washtenaw County School Justice Partnership Year One Report

• 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 2 8/11/2016

• 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 3

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 1. Reduce truancy rates by 5% 2. Reduce school expulsion by 10% 3. Reduce out-of-school suspensions by 10% Washtenaw SJP Objectives 1. Reduce chronic absenteeism (10% or more days, excused or unexcused) 2. Reduce out of school suspension and non-mandatory expulsions buy 5%; decrease disproportionality 3. Increase and strengthen partnership between parents, communities and schools Washtenaw School Justice Partnership 8/11/2016 4

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 5 8/11/2016

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 noncriminal, restorative approach • Professional development • Pilot in Lincoln and Ypsilanti but encourage participation by all districts Initial Washtenaw SJP Action Plan 6 8/11/2016

60% 52% 50% 44% 39% 40% Data under review 30% 20% 17% 21% 17% 16% 10% 0% Ann Arbor Chelsea Dexter Lincoln Manchester Milan Saline Whitmore Lake 2014 -15 Chronic Absenteeism by District MDE Data – chronic absenteeism defined as 10 absences Ypsilanti 7 8/11/2016

4, 000 3, 379 3, 500 3, 000 2, 500 2, 143 Data under review 2, 000 1, 500 1, 620 872 1, 000 563 418 500 609 490 191 i Y ps ila nt ak e e. L or tm W hi n ila Sa lin e an c Li M he st ol er n r D ex te a lse he C nc M A nn A rb or 0 2014 -15 Chronic Absenteeism by District MDE Data – chronic absenteeism defined as 10 absences 8 8/11/2016

40% 36. 7% 33. 9% 35% 27. 7% 30% 25. 1% 23. 3% 19. 2% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% All Students ED Non-ED White African American Latino ** ED = Economically 2014 -15 Chronic Absenteeism all Washtenaw County 9 MDE Data – chronic absenteeism defined as 10 absences 8/11/2016

• 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 A 2 Y 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 10 8/11/2016

• • • Absenteeism Protocol Quick Checklist Truancy Reporting Portal Sample Parent Notification Forms and Letters Research / Resources http: //attendancematters. weebly. com Communication Tool Kit 11 8/11/2016

Absenteeism Protocol Quick Guide – Year One Level Threshold Key Contact Required Intervention Level 1 5 days Social Worker / unexcused 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 • Truancy Portal – WISD Notification • WISD Truancy Hearing / Circle Level 5 Persists Prosecutor thru WISD N / A 12 8/11/2016

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

Case Management Approach – Year One County Staffing: WISD - Attendance Officer . 5 FTE **Partnered with district staff Court - Program Manager . 5 FTE Court - Case Managers 1. 0 FTE Not Case Managed Response to Referrals Withdrawn 52 54 Non-Resident Court Involved Age of Child 2 3 8 14 Submitted After Cut Off Date 27 Warning Letter from Court Sent to Parents / School Official Copied Case Managed Not Case Managed 14 8/11/2016

Case Management Approach – Year One 43% Average Number of Days Missed in Current School Year at Time of Referral 33% Students Receiving Special Education 74% 70% 63% 58% 53% 12% History of Chronic Single Parent / Family Housing or Parent Student - Mental School Of Choice Absenteeism Guardian Financal Mental or Physical Health Disorder Insecurity Health Disorder Root Cause Themes 15 8/11/2016

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 16 8/11/2016

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

• 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 18 8/11/2016

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: 10 - 15 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: 15 -18 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: http: //attendancematters. weebly. com Quick Checklist for Absenteeism Protocol - Proposed Revision for Year Two 19 8/11/2016

School Refers Through Portal Short Phone Conference Family Attends Wraparound Meeting? Yes Case Management, Monitoring, Review Meetings Parent ordered to participate? No Notice Sent with 2 nd meeting date (MCL 380. 1586; 1587) Yes Satisfactory Improvement No Police Report and Referral to Prosecutor Year End/Transition Meeting END No Case Flow Parent Charged in District Court? Yes 20 8/11/2016

• 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 21 8/11/2016

http: //attendancematters. weebly. com 22 8/11/2016