Section 1.290  Absenteeism and Truancy Policies

a)         Purpose

            This Section establishes guidelines and criteria required by Section 26-13 of the School Code [105 ILCS 5/26-13], which provides that school districts shall adopt absenteeism and truancy policies identifying appropriate supportive services and available resources for truants and chronic truants.

b)         Content of Policies

            Each school district shall develop an absenteeism and truancy policy including at least the following elements:

1)         A definition of a valid cause for absence in accordance with Section 26-2a of the School Code;

2)         A description of diagnostic procedures to be used for identifying the causes of unexcused student absenteeism, which shall, at a minimum, include interviews with the student, his or her parents or guardians, and any school officials or other parties who may have information about the reasons for the student's attendance problem; and

3)         The identification of supportive services to be made available to truant or chronically truant students. These services shall include, but need not be limited to, parent conferences, student counseling, family counseling, and information about existing community services which are available to truant and chronically truant students and relevant to their needs.

(Source:  Amended at 29 Ill. Reg. 15789, effective October 3, 2005)