Frequently Asked Questions

What is the process of the Cowlitz County Truancy Project?

The Cowlitz County Truancy Project began operation at the beginning of the 2006-07 school year. Cowlitz County School Districts, the Cowlitz County Juvenile Court and Educational Service District 112 came together, with funding from the Governors Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (GJJAC) to help students solve truancy issues, rather than serve time in juvenile detention. Once a school’s attendance officer files a petition for court intervention—when a student receives seven unexcused absences in a month, ten unexcused absences during the school year, or violates the school attendance policy—the school then may request the student to go directly to truancy court or to participate in the Truancy Project. The Truancy Project aims to reduce truancy by providing a countywide system of intervention and prevention services for school aged students designed to reinforce individual responsibility and personal growth. The project currently receives funding support from GJJAC, the Cowlitz County Juvenile Court and Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant.

How does a student get involved with the Cowlitz County Truancy Project?

Once students have been court-petitioned and referred to the Truancy Project, they are sent a letter inviting the student and their parents to an orientation. It is mandatory that both the student and the parent/guardian are in attendance for orientation. At orientation, an attendance agreement plan is developed and signed by the student, parent/guardian and the Truancy Project Specialist. The plan may have simple solutions such as purchasing an alarm clock, to something more complex, such as a wraparound academic and community services plan. The Specialist will track attendance, meet with the student and school administrators, conduct home visits and may refer the student to other community agencies – all in an effort to reconnect the student to a positive experience in school. The Truancy Project Specialist may monitor a student for up to a year. A successful student will receive a positive exit sooner and a struggling or non-compliant student may be referred back to court with a negative exit and risk being in contempt of court.

What are some objectives the Truancy Project pursues?

Using a comprehensive computerized tracking system that accurately provides statistical information regarding the attendance progress of students; it is easy to work toward setting achievable goals with the student. The Truancy Project Specialists coordinate resources of schools, community agencies and juvenile courts to provide appropriate intervention and assistance programs for youth and their families. The main objective is to keep youth in school and assist them in receiving their education.

How does a student obtain a positive release from the Truancy Project?

A student can be released from the Truancy Project if they have successfully completed the Cowlitz County Truancy Project by fulfilling his or her agreement/contract, if they are no longer in violation of the BECCA law, and the student has made significant progress towards appropriate attendance and educational progress. If this is met, then the student will be released with a positive exit.

So what are ways to be discharged with a negative exit?

A student can earn a negative exit by refusing to participate in the Truancy Project, not fulfill his or her contractual agreement with the Truancy Project or not improve his or her attendance pattern over a period of time as determined by the Truancy Project Specialist. When there is a negative exit, the student is referred back to juvenile court and can serve time in juvenile detention and the parent/guardian can be fined $25 for each day the student was absent in the school year.

Will a student go straight to court if they are non-compliant?

No. Once it is determined by the Project Specialist that a student is not making, or attempting to make progress, the student is invited to appear in front of a Community Truancy Board. The Truancy Board consists of volunteers from throughout Cowlitz County, a school district representative and Truancy Project staff. The student will have a chance to explain his or her continued attendance issues and will then work with the Board to develop a revised attendance agreement (contract). The student may be scheduled for a review Board at that time. Truancy Project Specialists follow up on the students’ progress and present the Board with updated information at the next meeting.

What can the Truancy Project Specialist offer students outside the project?

Truancy Project Specialists can offer numerous resources and referrals to each student. Tutoring, academic credit recovery, mentoring, mental health services, drug and alcohol assessment/treatment, volunteer programs and work experience are just a few option.