LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

Pupil Services and Attendance

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REVIEW TEAM (SART)

GUIDE FOR SCHOOLS

PREPARATION BEFORE SART MEETING:

  1. Identify students and include all school aged children living in the home
  2. Determine possible SART dates and confirm with team members (i.e. Administrator, PSW, School Nurse, School Psychologist, etc.).
  3. Schedule meetings for 45 minute intervals and type agenda (for multiple SARTs).
  4. Arrange for an interpreter, if necessary.
  5. Mail SART letter at least two weeks prior to meeting and also give the student a backpack letter to take home or conduct a home visit to hand deliver letter.
  6. Put a copy of the teacher evaluation form in the teacher’s box at least one week prior to SART.
  7. Pull the student’s cumulative folder and print their attendance records.

DAY OF SART MEETING:

  1. SART Script/Introductions

□SART Team and Family

  1. Take down information for the contract

□Verify address and phone numbers

□Names and birthdates of parents and school aged siblings

□Ask for Drivers License or some type of identification (make a copy)

□If one of the parents is missing inquire about their whereabouts. If he/she lives outside of the home obtain their contact information (address and phone numbers)

  1. Do you understand why you are here?

□After the parent has responded, review interventions that were done prior to SART (letters mailed home, telephone calls, parent conferences, etc.)

  1. Do you know how many absences your child has?

□Review current attendance and past attendance (elementary cum)

  1. Discuss LAUSD’s attendance policy, attendance laws, and consequences for continued unexcused absences

□Students must attend 96% of the time; less than 7 absences per year

□Compulsory Education

□SARB

□Court

  1. Identify issues that may be impacting attendance and further assess family dynamics

□Living situation

□Any major changes in the family unit (death, job loss, divorce, homelessness, etc.)

□Parenting issues

□Academic issues

□Behavioral issues

□Substance abuse issues (student or parent)

□Mental health or health issues

□Access to healthcare

  1. Ask about current/previous Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) involvement?

□Reason for case.

□Name and number of Children’s Social Worker (CSW) and have parent/guardian complete Release/Exchange of Information.

  1. Ask about current/previous Department of Probation involvement?

□Reason for case.

□Name and number of Probation Officer and have parent/guardian complete Release/Exchange of Information.

  1. CalWORKs information (if applicable)

□Name and number of eligibility worker and have parent/guardian complete Release/Exchange of Information.

  1. Offer resources to assist with addressing identified issues

□Utilize your Community Resource Guide for community based organizations (mental health counseling, parenting, substance abuse counseling, mentoring, recreational programs, child care, etc.).

□Refer to school based resources found in your School Support Directory.

□Alternative Education (adult school, Carlson home schooling, independent study, etc.).

□Write all referrals provided to the student/family on the Community Resources Referral Form and keep a copy for your records.

  1. ReviewContract

□Read entire contract to family.

□Sign contract.

□Explain that if unexcused absences continue case will be referred to SARB.

□Explain that contract will be placed in student’s cumulative record and follow them until they turn 18 or graduate from high school.

□Give parent/guardian a copy of the contract and keep a copy for your records.

AFTER SART MEETING:

□Add the SART to the Attendance Alert in the MiSiS Profile page and the Cumulative Folder.

□School mails a copy of the SART contract to siblings’ schools.

□If the family does not attend SART meeting attempt to contact them to reschedule the meeting. Make a home visit if necessary. If there is no response, send a copy of the contract signed by the people that were in attendance at the SART meeting with the “No Show to SART Letter”. Make sure to put “NO SHOW” on the SART contract.

□If attendance does not improve you can mail “SART Violation Letter” and schedule an appointment for Resource Panel.

**PLEASE REMEMBER TO DOCUMENT ALL INTERVENTIONS (TELEPHONE CALLS, EMAILS, PARENT CONFERENCES, LETTERS MAILED, REFERRALS GIVEN TO THE FAMILY, ETC.) IN MISISCONTACT LOG OR RECORD OF CONTACTS. YOU ARE POTENTIALLY PREPARING A CASE FOR COURT AND IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT RECORDS ARE ACCURATE AND THOROUGH**

06/23/2015 School Attendance Review Team (SART) Guide for Schools

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