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JHB

TRUANCY

 A student is habitually truant if the student:

            A.                 Is subject to the compulsory attendance law; and

B.                 Has attained the equivalent of ten (10) full days of non-excused absences or seven (7) consecutive school days of non-excused absences during a school year.

The Board shall appoint one (1) or more attendance coordinators in accordance with state law.  The following statutory provisions shall be followed when a student is habitually truant.

 A.                 If the principal and the attendance coordinator determine that a student is habitually truant, the principal shall inform the Superintendent.  The superintendent shall first try to correct the problem informally by:

(1)    Asking the student and student’s parents to attend a series of meetings with their child’s teacher or other school personnel designated by the Superintendent.  The purpose of the meeting is to describe the education program to the parents and student and explain the value of their child attending an educational program., including but not limited to school, adult education, a high school equivalency degree program and other alternative education programs.  The superintendent and/or designee shall arrange meeting times convenient to the student and student’s parents.

B.                 If the principal and attendance coordinator are unable to correct the problem, the Superintendent shall refer the matter to the Board along with the attendance coordinator’s report, the principal’s report and any other useful information. 

C.                 The Board shall call a hearing and shall notify the student and student’s parents of the date and time of the hearing, the purpose; the parent’s rights to inspect the student’s attendance records and that attendance reports; and the necessity of the parents’ and student’s attendance at the meeting. 

D.                 If the Board determines that the student is habitually truant, they shall either instruct the student to attend school as required by the compulsory attendance law and advise the parents of their responsibility under the law to assure the student’s attendance, or waive the requirements of 20-A MRSA 5001-A if the student is 15 years of age or older.  A parent may appeal the Board’s decision to the Commissioner of Education.

E.                  When a student is determined to be habitually truant and in violation of the compulsory attendance law and the Superintendent has made a good faith attempt to meet the requirements of paragraph A.1. above, the Superintendent may notify the local law enforcement department of the decision.  After this notification, a local law enforcement officer who sees a truant may offer to transport the truant to the appropriate school as provided in the truancy law.

Legal Reference:           20-A MRSA 5001-A; 5052-5054

Cross Reference:          JEA – Compulsory Attendance Ages

                                    JFC – Dropout Prevention Committee

 Adopted:           05/22/00