School Attendance Chronic Truant

If the county learns that a child 16 through 17 years of age has not been attending school and is deemed a chronic truant, the needs of the child will not be considered in computing the grant of the family. This will apply for any month in which the county is informed by a school district or a SARB that the child is a chronic truant, unless one of the following exception criteria exists:

• The county is provided with evidence that the child’s attendance records are not available.
• The county is provided with evidence that the child has been attending school.
• Good cause for school non-participation exists at any time during the month.
• Any member of the household is eligible to participate in the FS program.
• The county is provided with evidence that the child, parent, or caregiver is complying with requirements imposed by a SARB, the county probation department, or the district attorney; or
• A member of the household is cooperating with a plan developed by a county welfare agency such as Juvenile Probation, County Child Protective Services or Foster Care.

A child whose needs have not been considered in computing the grant of the family will remain eligible for services that may lead to attendance in school.

Referral to Family Services (FS) Program

Anytime the county learns that a child in a CalWORKs AU is a chronic truant, the family must be referred to the FS program for evaluation of FS eligibility requirements. If the family does not meet FS eligibility requirements or truancy services are not provided, but a mandatory participant is unable to complete their work requirements due to a minor’s truancy issues, then the case must be reviewed for WTW good cause and members of the family may be referred to counseling services.

Verification of School Attendance

All school age children are assumed to be regularly attending school unless notified by the school district or the county SARB that the child is not attending school regularly.

School Attendance Review Board (SARB) Intervention

Schools will explore all methods of intervention for any child that is not regularly attending school before requesting a penalty.

Schools will notify the County when a child has been deemed a chronic truant. The notification is sent to the Program Section and then forwarded to the EW and EW Supervisor for appropriate action.

The school’s methods of intervention include, but are not limited to: parent conferences, student conferences, referrals to community-based organizations and/or Social Services Agency Child Welfare Services staff, referrals to the SARB, and any other methods the school deems appropriate.