Attendance Support

Missing 1 or 2 Days Doesn't Seem Like Much, But...

What about being late to school? 

Every Day and Every Minute Count! 

Illinois School Code (105 ILCS 5/26) outlines the regulations regarding "compulsary (or required)" school attendance. 
Student attendance is expected no matter what type of instruction and learning is provided at school. The Illinois Compulsory Attendance Law requires that all children aged 6-17 must attend school and states it is the responsibility of the parent to see that they attend.

defines truant as a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause, as defined under this Section, from such attendance for more than 1% but less than 5% of the past 180 school days.  A chronic or habitual truant is a child who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days.

School districts must develop and communicate their absenteeism and truancy policy, as well as the supportive services and resources provided for truant and chronically truant students. 

1. When can a referral be made to North Cook  for attendance?
   A referral can be submitted to NCISC when a student has accumulated nine or more full days of unexcused absences and at least three interventions have been attempted. 
    
2. Are partial days counted towards unexcused absences?
   No, partial days cannot be counted toward the nine or more unexcused absences.
    
3. Can I submit one referral for multiple students?
   No, each student requires an individual referral form. 
    
4. Do unexcused class periods accumulate to full day absences?
   A single class period missed can not accrue to full day absences.
    
5. Can North Cook ROE ticket families for truancy?
   No, NCISC does not ticket families. North Cook does not endorse a punitive approach to truancy. Our main goal is to identify ways to remove or lessen attendance barriers. Individual municipalities MAY have different ordinance codes that permit ticketing.
    
6. Can NCISC Student Attendance Liaisons take part in IEP or other attendance related meetings?
   Yes! Student Liaisons can attend any and all meetings in regards to attendance for the students on their caseloads.
    
7. How long does a student stay in the attendance program?
   A 90-day review will be completed and if the student has met their attendance goals they will transition out of our program.
    
8. Does a new referral form need to be completed every school year?
   Yes, every student that needs services will require a new referral for a new school year. (But you do not have to submit more than one form for a student in one year.)
    
9. Do we accept referrals during the summer?
   We do not accept referrals during the summer because summer school is not mandatory, however we can continue to check in with students already on the caseload during the summer if they are within their 90-day time frame in the program.