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Stay In School Project is designed for your child to SUCCEED!
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What is the Stay in School Project?
The Wachter Middle School Stay In School Project, is a collaborative effort of community agencies, who have come together in recognition of the value of regular school attendance. The Stay In School Project will provide families with support, information, and interventions to reduce the excessive school absences/tardies.
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Stay In School Project Brochure (pdf document)
File Size: 122.87 kb
Phase Process
Phase I: After eight (8) tardies or eight (8) missed days of school, a letter is mailed to the student's home informing the parent of the student's missed days.
Phase II: After twelve (12) tardies or twelve (12) missed days of school, a letter from the "Stay In School Project" is mailed home asking the parents to contact the school regarding absences or tardies.
Phase III: If absences continue, the parent(s) will meet with a member of school personnel, to formulate an intervention plan. A release of information will be signed by the parent(s) at this point for the possibility of moving on to phase four.
Phase IV: If the absences continue and the phase III intervention plan is not being followed, the parent(s) and student are referred to the "Community Attendance Team" which is a team composed of representatives from Wachter Middle School, Burleigh County Social Services, Bismarck Police Department; Bismarck Juvenile Court, Youthworks, and the Assistant State's Attorney. The Community Attendance Team will provide recommendations concerning consequences for additional absences.
Wachter Middle School personnel will have the discretion of by-passing Phase II and/or Phase III if the situations of school attendance warrants.
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How does my child become part of the Stay in School Project?
The school tracks each student's daily attendance. If a student has missed more than 8 days (not including medically excused absences or school related absences) they will become part of the Stay In School Project.
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What will happen if my child is sick but I do not bring in a medical excuse?
The student will become part of the Stay in School Project after 8 missed days without a medical excuse. The team may require any future absences to be verified with a medical excuse.
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What will happen if I do not supply the medical excuses required by the team?
An educational neglect may be filed with Burleigh County Social Services against the parent/guardian. Parents may be criminally responsible if they to not attend to the needs of their children.
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What if my child refuses to go to school?
Parents can call the Police Youth Bureau (222-6738) for assistance in getting their child to school. A child can be found "unruly" if he/or she does not follow the rules of his/her parents. A child can be cited for truancy if they continue to refuse to come to school.
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What if I do nothing when my child refuses to come to school?
Parents/guardians are responsible for getting their child to school. Educational neglect may be filed or you can be held criminally responsible.
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School Policy on Attendance as governed by ND Century Code
All children between the ages of 7 and 16 are required by North Dakota Century Code to be in attendance every day that school is in session. Illness and certain other physical or mental incapacities are exceptions. Regular attendance habits require maximum cooperation of parents, students and school. Parental responsibility is clearly noted in the North Dakota Century Code.
All absences from school fall into one or two categories: excused or unexcused. An excused absence will be given for: personal illness or injury; death in the immediate family, emergency care or individual personal/family situations. An unexcused absence will be given when the parent or guardian fails to inform the school that their child will be absent. Unexcused absences are made up hour for hour in the after-school detention room or are forwarded on to the "Stay In School Project" for review. Tardies are included in the overall view of attendance. Excused tardies are the discretion of school administration.
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15.1-20 School Attendance (link)
ND Century Code - PDF
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