Office of School Participation

Parent Resources

Attendance and Referral Guidance for Parents & Guardians (PDF)

Anxiety and School Refusal: Parent & Guardian Information (PDF)

School Refusal: What Parents Can Do

When Kids Refuse to Go to School

Runaway Information for Parents & Guardians (PDF)

Medical Appointment Policy Guide (PDF)

10 Tips for Parenting Anxious Kids

LiceFree Spray

Head Lice Policy Information for Parents & Guardians (PDF)

More schools allowing kids to stay in school with lice

Online Resources

General Services

• Michigan 2-1-1 - United Way of West Michigan is an easy way to connect for help of all kinds
• Family Resource Guide - An up-to-date community resource guide for families, social service providers and professionals who work with children and families in Kent County.
• Michigan Department of Health and Human Services "MI Bridges" - Provides information on housing & shelter, food, work and school & family supports.
• Attendance Works - Provides research and resources for families.
• Bethany Christian Services- A family-centered nonprofit that covers 28 states.
• Hispanic Center of Western Michigan - Nonprofit organization serving the needs of the Latino and broader community.
• Grand Rapids Center for Community Transformation - Uses the tools and methods of business to solve the social problems of today.
• Dispute Resolution Center - Helps people solve their differences peacefully and constructively, using the services of a trained mediator.

Mental Health Services

• Arbor Circle - 616.456.6571
  Provides 24-hour phone and walk-in crisis intervention for runaway/homeless youth or youth in crisis. Individual and group counseling available.
• Ele's Place - 616.301.1605
  Healing center for grieving children and teens.
• Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services - 800.678.5500
  Offers outpatient services for individuals, couples and families. Counseling, consultation, assessment and testing for all ages available as well as special services.
• Adolescent & Family Behavioral Health Services - 616.295.7614
  Counseling towards emotional well-being.
• Catholic Charities of West Michigan/Social Services - 616.456.1443
  Offers mental health and counseling around West Michigan. Services available for children, adults, couples and families.
• Family Outreach Center - 616.247.3815
  Outpatient mental health services, substance use disorders, education, prevention and support services for children, youth and families in Kent County.
• Wedgewood Christian Services - 616.942.2110
  Dedicated to aggressively taking on the toughest problems facing young people today.
• Forest View Hospital - 616.942.9610
  Offers confidential assessment and referrals at no cost.

Education Resources

• MySchoolatKent
• ARC of Kent County
• Mich. Dept. of Education - Parent Resources
• MI Alliance for Families

Housing Resources

• ICCF Community Homes - 616.336.9333
• Mel Trotter Ministries - 616.454.8249
• Family Promise - 616.475.5220
• Community Rebuilders- 616.458.5102
• Seeds of Promise - 616.710.5730

FAQs

What is the difference between absenteeism vs. truancy?

Chronic absenteeism: attendance is 90 percent or less of scheduled days to date.  This definition includes all counted absences even if sanctioned by a parent/guardian.  A student is considered chronically absent when absent, for any reason, for ten percent or more of scheduled school days, measured at any point in the school year, or for time equivalent to ten percent or more of scheduled school days. This category of absenteeism, if all interventions are unsuccessful, may often result in charges for the parent/guardian or the juvenile, depending on age and history.
Truancy: ten unexcused absences in a school year.         

This definition focuses on absences not sanctioned by a parent/guardian, generally a student “skipping school,” and most often may result in charges for the juvenile if other interventions prove unsuccessful.

What is an “uncounted” absence?

Absences not considered toward your student’s 10% are called “uncounted” absences.   These absences include; 

• Exceptional Medical which is not intended for routine illness, even if under a provider’s care, but rather for very serious medical events, such as hospitalizations. These are absences ordered and documented, with hand signature, by a licensed health care doctor, with specific dates school must be missed for medical necessity.  (This also includes significant life trauma, such as an immediate family member death, as confirmed and approved by appropriate school staff.)  Blanket or “under the care of” excuses are not accepted as “medically absent” or “uncounted”. 
• Required court appearances for student with court documentation, and related detention.
• Suspensions and expulsions.
• Funerals – as noted in your school board policy.

When are schools legally required to submit a referral to Kent ISD Office of School Participation?

When counted absences meet or exceed ten percent of scheduled school days to date.   This includes full day, partial day, days tardy and early pick-ups. 

My child’s absences are excused.  Why am I getting a Notice of Chronic Absenteeism from Kent ISD Office of Participation?

All absences are a loss to instructional time and have an impact on students’ academic and social emotional needs, even those sanctioned by a parent/guardian.   National research has shown students who miss 10% of scheduled school days have a greater likelihood of school dropout.  By 6^th grade, chronic absenteeism is one of the leading indicators of school drop-out.  However, we know that children get sick and need to be out of school on occasion.   Therefore, only when absences or accumulated absences reach 10% will our office become involved. In a full year of school that is 18 days absent.  

I received a “Notice of Chronic Absenteeism or Truancy”. Now what happens?

As indicated in the notice, you are instructed to contact your child’s school to schedule a meeting to discuss attendance concerns and collaboratively write a plan of support and goals, Individual Attendance Improvement Plan (IAIP). Once this plan is in place and your student maintains the goals set forth in the IAIP, you will not hear from our office again.

I received a “Chronic Absenteeism or Truancy Action” letter.  What happens next?

If you have received a “Chronic Absenteeism or Truancy” this indicates our office has received a second referral from your student’s school.  At this point the attendance meeting with IAIP should have been held or attempted, student resources have been offered and your student’s school social worker or counselor has attempted to contact you or your student.  Despite those efforts your student’s attendance has not met the goals of the IAIP or less than 10% absenteeism.  You must follow the directive at the bottom of the “Chronic Absenteeism or Truancy” letter in order to avoid further action on our part, which could include court involvement. 

What is Online School vs. homeschooling?

• When choosing to homeschool, a parent serves as the child’s teacher for all K-12 subject areas. To learn more about those subject areas and homeschool questions please visit https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/flexible-learning/options/nonpub-home
• Homeschooling requires a parent/guardian to choose exemption (a) or (f) for their student.  
• When choosing an online charter school, the parent is choosing an education that delivers instruction to students who are physically separated from their teacher.  The individual requirements for online charter schools vary, some meeting synchronously or asynchronously. If your child is in grades 6-12, MySchool@Kent offers a blended option, offering both the requirement of just a few hours a week in-person and the majority of their course work and instruction online.  

Referral forms are for school personnel only.

Attendance Referral Form 

Expulsion Notification Form