Governing Board J. Richard Whitmore Date: September 1, 2016 President Nancy Kendzierski Michael Simmons, Foreperson*

R1

Finding: The SART and SARB programs help maintain and improve attendance rates, thereby increasing ADA funding for each school in the SCHOOLS district and the COE. Response: The respondent agrees with the finding. Acalanes Adult Education Walnut Creek

R2

Finding: Not all County Districts comply with the requirement found Acalanes Center for in California Education Code 15497 that each district collect, track and Independent Study Walnut Creek report its chronically absence rates in an annual LCAP. Response: The respondent partially disagrees with the finding. Other districts may not Acalanes High School Lafayette annual collect, track and report attendance rates, but AUHSD does report Campolindo High School these rates in its LCAP and has annual goals to improve attendance. Moraga Las Lomas High School

R3

Finding: To identify students with attendance issues and quickly Walnut Creek address these issues, the school district needs complete and accurate data Miramonte High School about attendance and a well-developed support infrastructure. Response: Orinda The respondent agrees with the finding. We educate every student to excel and contribute in a global society.

R4

Finding: Some districts have little communication with other school districts and the COE about best practices, common achievement goals and best data systems regarding attendance. Response: The AUHSD partially disagrees with the finding. The AUHSD has a robust SARB program and shares information regularly with other districts, particularly its partner districts. Early intervention in 9th grade is critical, and partner districts share information on target students.

R5

Finding: Chronically absent or truant students who do not get back on track before age 18 are more likely to drop out of high school before graduation. Response: the respondent agrees with the finding.

R6

Finding: Parent and Truancy courts offer attendance support and are one of the last opportunities to alter a student's attendance behavior. Response: The respondent agrees with the finding.

R7

Finding: Attendance improvement programs used by the County's juvenile courts such as the Lincoln Child Center, ankle monitors, drug and mental health counselors, and tutoring classes lack long term funding. Response: The respondent agrees with the finding.

R8

Finding: The school districts that have Truancy or Resource Officers who connect directly with students help get chronically absent or truant students back on track. Response: The respondent partially disagrees with the finding. While School Resource Officers or Truancy officers provide a resource to schools, smaller schools such as those in the AUHSD do not have such staff. In those schools administrators, counselors and school staff are able to intervene with truancy issues with success. CCC Grand Jury Recommendations and AUHSD Responses: