TRP School Sample Parent Letter

Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s):

What is Truancy?

An initial "truancy" is defined as three (3) unexcused absences from school within a single school year (Education code section 48260).

What is an excused absence?

An excused absence in ___________School District is defined as: ________________

______________________________________________________________________

What charges may be filed against the student

  • Referral to the Kern County Probation Department Truancy Reduction Program (TRP) Officer and/or Kern County Sheriff’s Safe Schools Officer who will make a home visit and check regularly to make sure the child attends school
  • Referral to the law enforcement so parents/guardians can be charged with a misdemeanor complaint with the Kern County District Attorney’s Office for enabling or promoting truancy (Penal Code section 272, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor)
  • An infraction under Welfare and Institutions Code section 601 (b) may be filed against the truant child
  • Referral to the Juvenile Traffic Court so the court can delay the truant from obtaining a driver’s license or revoke a license, assign community service, order a fine for truancy

What penalties may be applied to the parent(s) guardian?

  • A fine of $100-$500 and/or court mandated parenting classes
  • For a misdemeanor the penalties may include a fine of $50 to $500; 5 to 25 days in jail with up to one year probation; and parenting classes
  • Contributing to the delinquency of a minor under the age of 18 is punishable as a misdemeanor by imprisonment in a county jail for up to one year; by a fine of up to $2500; and up to five (5) years probation (Penal Code section 272)
  • Welfare and institutions Code section 11253.5 authorizes the County CalWORKS office to reduce a family welfare grant if it is determined that the child is not "regularly attending school as required" –in Kern County that minimum attendance requirement is 90% for one calendar month

What can the parent and student do to prevent prosecution?

  • The child can attend school regularly
  • Parents should cooperate with school staff to assist in resolving any attendance problems
  • Parents should attend school staff/parent conferences requested by the school

A message to students and parents

The youth of Kern County are our most precious resource. One of the earliest indicators that something may be wrong in a young person’s life is chronic truancy. It is important that we as a community collaborate to ensure that our young people receive the quality education they deserve and establish a solid foundation for their future by attending school on time all the time. Students who are truant lose valuable instructional time and opportunities for learning critical academic skills and the understanding of how important it is in life to be on time and dependable.

The parents and community also lose when truancies result in crime, lack of marketable skills for career choices and increased dependency on others. Please help us to establish a consistent pattern of school attendance that will support a solid work ethic.

Please feel free to contact me at <administrator’s phone number>, if you have any further questions regarding your child’s attendance.

 

Sincerely,

<Principal’s Name>, Principal

<School Name>

__________________________________

Back to TRP: Truancy Reduction Program home page


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