Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Mount VernonChronic Truancy Reduction Initiative
How an Inner-City School District
Cut Absenteeism by 19.8% in Two Years -
With No Additional Grant Funding
Mount VernonChronic Truancy Reduction Initiative
Sponsored by: The City of Mount Vernon Mount Vernon City School District Westchester County Department of Social Services
Chronic Truancy Hurts Communities
Chronic Truancy is linked to:
Educational Failure Increased Juvenile Crime Other Risky Teen Behaviors Child Abuse Increased Adult Crime Long-Term Poverty
The Bottom LineIf you care about: Helping at-risk kids Reducing crime Making sure schools succeed Protecting kids from child abuse Alleviating poverty or Strengthening our community
We share a common stake in addressing chronic truancy.
How Can We Address Chronic Truancy?
PROBLEM: Dwindling resources
SOLUTION: Better use of existing resources Maximize use of under-utilized resources Target limited resources to highest-need
youth
How Can We Address Chronic Truancy?
Enforce the law on mandatory school attendance
Use Child Protective Services’ educational neglect reporting process to: trigger an investigation and assessment of
the family situation, followed when necessary by support services
and/or court intervention
Overview of New Mount Vernon Educational Neglect Reporting Process
1. Report all students with 20+ unexcused absences
2. Report them sooner (as they occur)
3. Document the educational impacts
4. Provide follow-up data when needed for CPS and Family Court
5. Target community-based support services to chronic truants, especially (but not exclusively) those referred by CPS
What We’ve Accomplished Clear Lines of Responsibility Clear Definition of Local Expectations Improved Tracking Data-Driven Accountability Staff Training and Support Increased Utilization of CPS Mobilization of Community Partners District-Wide Decrease in Absenteeism
Clear Lines of Responsibility
PROBLEM: When everyone is responsible, no one is responsible.
SOLUTION: Clear lines of responsibility. Each school has a Truancy Liaison to track
data, encourage attendance, and file CPS reports
Principals have ultimate responsibility for managing the process in their school
Clear Definition of Local Expectations
How Many Absences Are Too Many? Safety Net: Ensure CPS Reporting at 20
Unexcused Absences Protocols for Early Intervention Supplemental Reporting Form Monthly Monitoring & Data Review
Improved Tracking# of Mount Vernon Students in Grades 1-8 with 20+ Unexcused Absences
1,005983
257 262
0
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010
# of Truants
Data-Driven Accountability
Truancy Liaisons meet monthly to review their data: how many students with 20+ unexcused and how many unreported
Liaisons (and Principals) compete for best results
Schools must account for every student
Staff Training and Support
Monthly Progress Review and Problem Solving Session with all Truancy Liaisons, Administration, CPS & Service Providers
Truancy Liaisons Trained to Directly Access Attendance Data
Refresher Training in Legal Requirements for CPS “Mandated Reporters”
Increased Utilization of CPS# Educational Neglect Reports Filed in Mount Vernon By School Year
6572
57
227
0
50
100
150
200
250
2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009 2009-2010
Year
# Reports Filed
Mobilization of Community Partners
Student Advocacy Family Services of Westchester Student Assistance Services Family Ties Community Networks Mount Vernon Communities That Care Faith Communities
Reduced Absenteeism
- 19.8%8.89%9.15%11.09%Total District
- 19.52%16.36%16.61%20.33%High School
- 37.04%8.02%8.88%12.74%Middle School
- 12.70%5.43%5.56%6.22%Elementary
School
% Change2010-20112009-20102008-2009
Karl Bertrand, L.M.S.W., President
Program Design and Development, LLC47 Wayside Drive
White Plains, NY 10607
(914) 592-1272
www.programdesign.com
