Parents responsible to make sure kids are in class

GUSTINE – Perfect attendance may be out of the realm of reality, but school officials believe that a 97 percent attendance rate is within reach.

That’s the goal of  a continuing effort to improve attendance in local schools; one being pursued in part by an educational campaign stressing the importance of students being in school and in part through the enforcement of laws which make school attendance compulsory.

Educators have long noted the link between attendance and academic achievement.

But in an age of declining enrollment and budget cuts, attendance rates figure prominently for financial reasons as well. Most school funding is based on average daily attendance, so the difference between a mediocre attendance rate and an exemplary attendance rate can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for cash-strapped districts such as Gustine Unified.

Attendance problems are often most pronounced at the high school level, district officials say.

“We do have a districtwide focus, but attendance at the high school is always a little more difficult than at the younger ages,” Superintendent Gail McWilliams commented. “Gustine High is pro-active and will continue to work at it this year.”

Gustine High administrators are signaling a willingness to use whatever legal tools are at their disposal to address truancy issues – even if it means going to the district attorney for sanctions against the student and the parents.

That’s a last resort, but one which Principal Dennis Shaw and Assistant Principal John Petrone said they are willing to take if need be.

“We met with the D.A’s office to discuss what the process involves if it gets to that point,” Petrone said. “They told us that they will prosecute every packet we put together through the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB). They know that we’re serious about it.”

Taking a case to the district attorney is the only alternative when other less drastic efforts to improve a student’s attendance have failed, Petrone and Shaw said. The sanctions sought by the D.A. reflect the gravity of that situation. Petrone said truants can be prevented from getting a driver’s license until they reach age 21, community service can be ordered and students and parents can be fined.

The district’s new Aries records management system will allow administrators to better track attendance and identify problems sooner, Petrone noted.

“When we identify those students, we are going to get to them much sooner than we have in the past and address the issues according to the law,” he explained. “We are looking harder at absences this year.”

After three full-day, unverified absences, a student is classified as truant. The SARB process begins after seven missed days in a school year.

Parents are also held accountable.

“Until the child is 18 years of age, parents are required by law to make sure that their children are in school,” Petrone said. “You’d be surprised how many parents try to excuse all their childrens’ absences. I don’t know that a lot of parents are aware of their legal responsibilities. Sometimes in the SARB process, they are quite shocked when they see what the actual law says.”

Shaw, who chairs the district SARB this year, agrees that the school must strive to turn around poor attendance habits.

“We can do a better job,” he commented. “Attendance and tardies are things that we really need to tighten up here. Those all contribute to school culture and climate.”

Attendance is a focal point at all schools in the district, where administrators work closely with parents when absences and tardies become an issue, offer incentives for good attendance and celebrate attendance through special activities and awards.

If needed, however, the SARB process can be initiated for students at any grade level.