TRUANCY/DISCIPLINE COURT 
NOTICE TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN

The 28^th Judicial District Families in Need of Services (FINS) Program in collaboration with the LaSalle Parish School Board’s Child Welfare & Attendance Program wish to notify LaSalle Parish residents of Truancy/Discipline Court .  

What is the purpose of Truancy/Discipline Court ?

The purpose is to alleviate unexcused absenteeism and unexcused tardiness and promote good compulsory school attendance and to assure students are receiving an education without interruption of instruction  time due to discipline problems, as well as, to assure the safety of all students and faculty in LaSalle Parish Schools. Also, with new state mandates regarding high stakes testing and school accountability, good school attendance and abiding by school rules is a must for academic and life long success, but most importantly, it’s the law.  ( Louisiana R.S. 17:233 & Louisiana R.S. 17:416)  

What are Compulsory School Attendance ages?

Every child in the state is required by state law to attend public or private school from the child’s seventh (7^th) birthday until his/her eighteenth (18^th) birthday, unless the child graduates prior to his/her 18^th birthday.  Any child below the age of seven (7) including Pre-Kindergarten students who legally enrolls in school shall also be required to adhere to school attendance regulations. ( Louisiana R.S. 17:221)  

  What are the current regulations regarding school attendance for LaSalle Parish Schools?

  Our LaSalle Parish School Calendar this year accounts for 168 student days scheduled for 390 instructional minutes per day.  
  In order to be eligible to receive grades/credits:

A.  Elementary students Pre-Kindergarten through 8^th grade, shall not exceed 16 days per year of absences.

B.   High School students 9^th through 12^th grades, shall not exceed 8 days per

semester of absences.

1.   High school students (9-12) attendance shall be kept on a per period basis. 

2.   For high schools counting attendance by periods, a student shall be present for more than 50% of a period to be counted as being in attendance for that class period.

  Are there exceptions to Compulsory School Attendance Laws?

The only exception to the attendance regulation shall be extenuating circumstances that are verified by the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.  Only the following shall be considered extenuating circumstances under which absences shall be exempt from provisions of compulsory attendance laws:

1.   Extended personal physical or emotional illness as verified by a physician or dentist

2.   Extended hospital stay as verified by a physician or dentist

3.   Extended recuperation from an accident as verified by a physician or dentist

4.   Extended contagious disease within a family as verified by a physician or dentist

5.   Prior school system approved travel for education

6.   Death in the family (not to exceed one week)

7.   Natural catastrophe and/or disaster

8.   Mandated Court Appearances as verified by a Court Official

9.   For any other extenuating circumstances, parents must make a formal appeal in accordance with the due process procedures established by the school system.

     What if my child has an excuse?

     All excuses, including original doctor/dentist verification, for a student’s absence must be presented to the

     school within five (5) days of the student’s return to school to be considered for extenuating circumstances. 

     Doctor’s notes presented after this time will NOT be considered.  Parent notes for illness are excused for the

     purpose of making up work but count towards the number of days per year a student is allowed to miss and

     are NOT considered an extenuated circumstance.  

              Who will be referred to Truancy/Discipline Court ?

         If your student meets the following criteria listed below, he/she will be referred to Truancy/Discipline

         Court of the LaSalle Parish 28^th Judicial District:

1.        LaSalle Parish Schools students who exceed 8 days absence within the first semester or a total of 12 days absence within the second semester or as deemed eligible for referral by SCWA and who do not provide a valid excuse according to the criteria for extenuated circumstances as listed above, will be referred to Truancy/Discipline Court .

2.        All LaSalle Parish Schools students who are habitually tardy as defined by LA R.S. 17:233 or who accumulate excessive checkouts will be referred to Truancy/Discipline Court . 

3.        Any student who accumulates three in-school or out-of school suspensions and/or is found guilty of any disciplinary infraction that would warrant immediate action by the Principal of the school will be referred to Truancy/Discipline Court .

  What are suspendable offenses?

All students in LaSalle Parish receives a Student Code of Conduct at the beginning of school based on

LRS 17:416 laws and local policy and procedures which lists suspendable offenses and the dispositions; however, any behavior that disrupts the educational process or the tranquility and harmony of the school setting can be a suspendable offense based on the administrator’s discretion. Students may also be suspended for inappropriate behavior on the school bus or at any school sponsored event.

  What happens if my child meets the criteria for referral to Truancy/Discipline Court ?

1.       A list of students who have met the referral criteria above will be presented to the FINS Officer by the Supervisor of Child
   Welfare & Attendance upon consultation and recommendation by the student’s teacher and/or principal.

2.       Both the parents or guardians and the student will be notified in writing of the date and time in which they are commanded to      
    appear in Court.

3.       Upon entering Court, the parent/guardian must pay as follows:

·         1^st Referral:  $25.00

·         2^nd Referral:  $50.00

·         3^rd Referral or at any time exceeding the allowable days (see Attendance Regulations):  $100.00 
   
   All fees will be collected by the Designated Court Official prior to departure of the Courtroom. 

4.  The Judge as well as other designated officials will address any and all students summoned  for this date regarding the charges
      of either truancy or discipline or both.

5.   The parent/guardian and student will be asked to sign an Informal FINS Contract agreeing to abide by school rules and comply with the attendance regulations.

6.   Court will be adjourned. At this time, the Judge and other officials may opt to meet with some students and parents/guardians in closed session and shall have the option to order additional interventions/remedies as deemed necessary.                                                 

7.   Non-compliance to attend, refusal to sign the Informal FINS Contract, or failure to adhere to the FINS Contact will result in a referral
to the District Attorney for formal court proceedings to enforce the provisions relative to Revised Statute 17:221, 17:416 and Children’s Code

      Article 730 regarding laws that pertain to school attendance, compulsory ages, abiding by school rules, duty of parents, excessive
     absenteeism, and FINS.

When and where will Truancy/Discipline Court be held?

Truancy/Discipline Court will be held on a regular basis or as deemed necessary.   
Tentative Court Dates for the 07/08 School Year are as follows:    

September 28, 2007
November 13, 2007
January 23, 2008
April 23, 2008

  If I have questions regarding my child’s attendance or disciplinary concerns, whom do I contact?

You first need to contact your child’s teacher and/or school principal if you have questions regarding your student’s attendance or discipline concerns.
 If you need further assistance, you may contact Melinda Edwards, LCSW, Supervisor of Child Welfare & Attendance at 992-2161.