Truancy Scenario #4 – Repeated Meeting Problems

You, the ES, typically meet a parent at a public location, such as a park, library, or learning center, rather than in the parent’s home. This parent has frequently been late, but has usually rescheduled. Last month, she did not call or show up for the scheduled appointment. You called and re-set the appointment, but when you met, the parent had very little information or work to present for the student. You were unsure about the attendance, but the parent put all x’s on the roll sheet and signed it, so you accepted it. You wrote the LR based on very little information. You received no work sample. Now, the following month, the parent has again missed the appointment without notice.

The ES should not have let the first month’s problem continue. The parent should have been reminded the first time that lack of progress toward student standards is considered a truancy, and the attendance roll sheet should have been sent in representing the actual number of days the student was in school to produce the amount of work the parent represented (see scenario #2 for process). The truancy letter should be requested the first time that there is a truancy to keep from developing a chronic problem. (The ES should attempt to set their meetings at a convenient location/time in order to accommodate the family’s needs as much as is possible. If accommodating their needs still results in missed meetings, proceed with the truancy process.)

As always, document everything when you suspect a problem is developing.