Truancy

Overview

The Humble ISD Police Department works in conjunction with Humble ISD and its schools, relating to juvenile absenteeism. The Truancy division consist of three truancy officers dedicated to ensure that children attend school to acquire the education they need to thrive in this world.

Duties Of Officers

Some duties of attendance officers are as follow:

  • Monitor Attendance Compliance

  •  Investigate Violation of Compulsory Attendance

  • Conduct Truancy Prevention Measures

  • Conduct Home Visits or Contact Parents

  • Escort Student to School with Probable Cause (Peace Officer)

  • Maintain Investigative Record

  • Refer students to Truancy Court (when appropriate)

  • File Complaint Against Parent for Parent Contribution to Nonattendance (when appropriate)

Compulsory Attendance

Truant Conduct - The failure to attend school on 10 or more days or parts of days within a 6-month period in the same school year, by a child who is required to attend school.

Truancy - is now a civil matter handled in truancy court under Title 3A (Chapter 65) of the Family Code.

Truant Child - A person who is 12 years of age or older and younger than 19 years of age who is required to attend school.

Voluntary Enrollment of Student 19 and Over -  A person who voluntarily enrolls in school after their 19th birthday is required to attend school for the entire period the program of instruction is offered. HB 2398 adds a requirement, that the district shall issue the student a notice(warning letter) after the student’s third unexcused absence stating that the student’s enrollment may be revoked.

Truancy Prevention Measures

Required to minimize referrals to truancy court must include one or more of the following:

1. Imposition of either:

  1. behavior improvement plan

  2. school based community service

2. Refer student to counseling, mediation, mentoring, teen court program, community based services, or other services aimed to addressing studnet's truancy

NOTICE TO PARENTS

Warning Letter
In the warning notice that must be issued at the beginning of each school year, a district must explain that if a student is absent from school on ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period, the student is subject to referral to truancy court. Parents remain subject to criminal prosecution.

Parent Contributing to Nonattendance
If school district is able to provide evidence of parent’s criminal negligence, it may file a complaint against the parent for “parent contributing to nonattendance”. 

Fine Range

  • $100 max for first offense

  • $200 max for second offense up to $500 for fifth or subsequent offense

Resources

Triad Prevention Program
Triad Prevention Program operates Justice of the Peace Court Family Services with Case Manager Program. The program assist by providing services to students at risk of entering juvenile justice system before cases are filed. 

The following are some services they provide to families:

  • Referrals to Non-Profit Programs

  • Crisis Intervention

  • PSC-17 Screenings

  • Truancy Learning Camp

  • Parent Teen Survival 

  • Parenting with Love and Limits (PLL)

Homeless Students & Families
The enrollment process in Humble ISD includes a Student Residency Questionnaire (SRQ) as part of our comprehensive efforts to identify students and families currently experiencing homelessness. If your current address is a temporary living arrangement and it is due to loss of housing or economic hardship, you may meet the definition of experiencing homelessness. If, due to a lack of housing, you must live in a shelter, motel, vehicle, or campground, on the street, in abandoned buildings or trailers, or doubled-up with relatives or friends, then according to the McKinney-Vento Act, you are considered homeless. The educational rights homeless students have under the McKinney-Vento Act include the right to:

  • go to school,

  • enroll in school without giving a permanent address,

  • continue attending the school they were enrolled in before the homelessness occurred when feasible; and

  • enroll in the Texas public school district of their choice with the campus designation being determined by the school district.

Humble ISD may be able to offer additional assistance to students and families who are experiencing homelessness.

If you are in need of assistance please contact Matt Smith or Robin Guillory in the Humble ISD Homeless Education Office at 281-641-8408.