Truancy  Policy 2015-2016

 

Nay Ah Shing School will follow Mille Lacs Band and Minnesota State statutes regarding truancy. In an effort to combat truancy, the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has strengthened truancy policy to increase student academic achievement. The newly adopted policy/model is available at www.nas.k12.mn.us or at the front desk of each school.

 

MLB Law under Title 9 part 18 Compulsory Attendance of school age pupils:

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(a)    Every child between the chronological age of six to sixteen years of age shall attend a Band School or Public School of the State of

        Minnesota, duringthe entire time that the school is in session during the school year.  Nay Ah Shing School shall be in session no

        more than one hundred and eighty 180) instructional days. 25 CFR, Part 36, Subpart C, Section 36.2 (b).  Any student between the

        ages of sixteen and eighteen years of age who seeks to withdraw from school must have the student's parent or guardian (1)

        attend a meeting with school personnel to discuss the educational opportunities available to the student, including alternative

        educational opportunities, and (2) the student's parent or guardian must sign a written election to withdraw from school.

 

(b)   It shall be the duty of the School Board or its designee to determine the legitimacy of all absences from school for any pupil. 

        Excuses for absence shall be determined from uniform standards promulgated by the School Board.

 

(c)    The School Board or its designee shall by registered mail notify the parents or guardians of any pupil who is unexpectedly absent

        from school.  On the fifth unexcused absence from school the School Board shall by registered mail notify the parents or g

        guardians to appear before the School Board for formal hearing into the matter.  Upon the continuation of unexcused absences

        or upon failure of the parents or guardians to appear before the School Board, the School Board shall request that the

        appropriate Social Services agency file a civil complaint (Child Protection Petition) in a court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(d)   Any person who is found guilty of civil violations of this section shall be subject to a fine not to exceed one hundred (100.00)

       dollars.  Continued civil violation shall subject the person to contempt of court and an additional fine.

 

(e)   For the purposes of this section, parents or legal guardians shall be deemed liable for the truancy of minors under their direct

        supervision in any court of competent jurisdiction.

 

(f)     For the purpose of this section, parents or legal guardians shall be deemed liable for the acts of minors under their direct

         supervision in the Court of Central Jurisdiction

 

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Schools Response to Absenteeism

 

Below is a list of the steps school personnel will take in response to absenteeism.

 

Step One:      Three (3) unexcused absences– Parent Involvement Coordinator will contact and inform the parent/guardian by

                        telephone and/or email.  A truancy brochure will be given at that time.  A referral will then be made to the crisis

                        management team. 

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Step Two:      Five (5) unexcused absences – Parent Involvement Coordinator will send a certified letter to the parent or guardian

                       requesting them to appear before the school board or a designated representative. (Notice #2) In addition,

                       parents/guardians will be expected to attend a meeting with school crisis management team to develop a plan/contract

                       designed to improve attendance.              

 

                       Five classes/school days missed are considered excessive absenteeism under MN State Standards, Bureau of Indian

                       Education standards and Mille Lacs Band Statute, therefore cannot be tolerated. Title 9 part 18c Mille Lacs Band

                       Statute reads:

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                            On the fifth unexcused absence from school the School Board shall by registered mail notify the parents or guardians

                            to appear before the School Board for formal hearing into the matter.

 

Step Three:  Seven (7) unexcused absences– Parent Involvement Coordinator will notify parent or guardian by certified letter (Notice

                      #3). Truancy File opened:

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                      All documentation regarding absenteeism will be forwarded to Mille Lacs Band Health and Human Services, the county

                      attorney's office of the county in which the student resides. (Students with excessive absences are subject to mandated

                      reporting requirements) This documentation will result in the creation of a truancy file.

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                      Students must make up work outside of class that they have missed due to excessive absenteeism or they will not

                      progress to the next level.  

 

                      Students may face possible dis-enrollment from school or class

 

                      Students who are unexcused absent 10 consecutive days during the school year will automatically be dis-enrolled and

                      reported to proper authorities as per BIE policy.

 

                      If the student is dis-enrolled for any reason, the public schools in each student's home district will be notified. In order to

                      re-enroll at Nay Ah Shing, the parent and student must make a formal appearance at a School Board meeting to request

                      re-enrollment. The School Board makes the final decision regarding re-enrollment.

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2016 Nay Ah Shing Schools