TRUANCY INTERVENTION PROGRAM 
(TIP Protocol)
Truancy from school is a serious concern in Eaton County. Truancy often leads to academic failure, dropping out of school, substance abuse, delinquent and other risky behavior.
This protocol has been developed to support schools with children who are not attending school regularly.
The Law
The Eaton County Family Division of Circuit Court, the 56A District Court, and the Eaton County Prosecuting Attorney's Office are continuing to work with Eaton Intermediate School District's Truancy Intervention Program (TIP) and the local school districts to address truancy.
The Parents
By law, "Every parent, guardian, or other person in this state having control and charge of a child from the age of six to the child's sixteenth birthday, shall send that child to a public school during the entire school year." Violation of this law is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine. Exceptions to this law exist, including attendance to a private, parochial school, and home schooling. MCL 380.1561-1599.
The Students
The Eaton County Family Division of Circuit Court has authority and jurisdiction over a youth "who willfully and repeatedly absents himself or herself from school or other learning program intended to meet the child's educational needs..." Probate Code 712A.2. The law requires that prior to petitioning the court, the school meet with the parent or guardian (if possible) and with the child to address educational problems.
TIP Referral Procedures
To address the issue of truancy as quickly as possible, it is important that schools accurately document every absence and response to the absences. The school must determine when a student is truant and take appropriate action. Once determined truant, a TIP referral form should be faxed to Polly Brainerd, the TIP Coordinator at 517/543-4870. An attendance report and current grades should accompany the referral.
TIP Contact with Parents/Guardians:
The TIP Coordinator will contact parents to assess the reasons for attendance problems, offer to meet the parent/guardian and student at school to discuss concerns, assess for educational, health issues or medications that could be contributing to attendance problems, and offer support to resolve any issues presented including:
- Academic assistance
- Tutoring
- Mental health assessment/counseling
- Parenting Classes
- Mentoring
- Advocacy
- Other community resources
The TIP Coordinator will explain TIP program requirements including:
- Attendance Facilitator will be meeting regularly with children over 10 (once every week or two weeks)
- The child's attendance will be monitored for 45 days
- Future absences must be documented by a note from a doctor, dentist, counselor, or a phone call made to the TIP Coordinator for discussion about excusing the absence
- Two undocumented absences within a two-week period will be considered truancy (2 tardies will equal 1 absence)
- With continued undocumented absences and lack of commitment demonstrated to improving attendance, court intervention will be sought
Court Intervention
For children ages 6 - 10, if within the 45 days, the child has continued truancy, a complaint against the parent will be filed with the Eaton County Prosecuting Attorney. If adequate evidence exists to charge the crime of Failure to Send a Child to School is found, first, a warning letter from the Prosecuting Attorney will be sent to the parent/guardian.
Parent/guardian will be asked to contact the TIP Coordinator for a meeting at the school and their child's continuous and consecutive attendance at school to avoid criminal prosecution.
Continued undocumented absences will result in a request to the Prosecuting Attorney for criminal prosecution of the parent or guardian.
For children aged 11-16, if within the 45 days the child has continued truancy, a petition against the child for truancy will be requested from the Eaton County Prosecuting Attorney. A meeting will be held at Juvenile Court with the TIP Coordinator, school administrator, student and parent/guardian to determine a plan for significantly improved attendance. If the student's attendance does not improve, a hearing before the Court Referee will be scheduled promptly. If appropriate, criminal charges against the parent will also be requested.
For more information about TIP, contact Polly Brainerd at 517/541-8939, cell 517/231-6879, fax 517/541-4870 or by e-mail pbrainerd@eatonisd.org.
