If APS is to achieve its new vision-- to graduate every student with the choice to go to college without remediation-- and prevent students from dropping out, students need to be in classes every day. |
There is no question that APS staff members are committed to providing every child the best education possible. The goal is to partner with parents to help all students be successful and to do everything possible to ensure this success. |
| At middle and high schools, staff members are taking a direct and immediate approach to reduce student absences and ensure that students are in classes. Elementary staff members are discussing the importance of being in school. |
| Because truancy is an issue in APS--and most schools throughout the country-- staff members at all levels are actively addressing this challenge with new practices that will make a difference in student learning. |
The district is actively reaching out to parents whose students have excessive, unexcused absences to eliminate this problem and ensure that students are able to reach our vision of graduation with the choice to go to college. The new truancy outreach plan-- summarized at right-- includes several bold steps. |
Aurora Public Schools staff members are here to help all students achieve success. |
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APS Truancy Outreach Plan
- APS staff members will enforce district policies and state laws related to truancy. Superintendent Barry is sending letters to all parents explaining truancy laws and offering assistance in helping keep students in class. APS policy and Colorado state law actually mandate compulsory school attendance for children between the ages of 7 and 16. On July 1, the age changes to 17.
- High school staff members are calling families of students with excessive absences. They are inviting parents, guardians and students back to school to meet with Superintendent Barry, Aurora Chief of Police Dan Oates and community members. Staff members will also be there to work with families and to develop strategies for keeping students interested in their education. APS held its first session at Gateway in December. The next session will be held at Rangeview on Jan. 20.
- APS is forming a new truancy task force that will execute strategies to aggressively enforce truancy intervention and create additional support for parents and students.
- On Jan. 29, Superintendent Barry and his leadership team will be making home visits to students who have not returned from school after the holiday break.
- If students continue to have unexcused absences, as required by law, staff members will file truancy petitions with the local courts. Magistrates in Adams and Arapahoe counties hold both parents and students responsible for resolving truancy and for working with school staff to do what is needed to keep children in each class. Parents may be held accountable by the Magistrates for their child’s non-attendance, with a range of consequences from fining parents $25 for every day of absence to being taken into custody and jailed.
- APS is holding online chat sessions with staff members to discuss truancy solutions. Click here for a transcript of the last session.
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Picking up the PACE!
