What are the responsibilities and job description for the Attendance Officer-PHS position at PORTAGE HS?
Job Summary:
Interprets the Indiana State Code, court rulings, and the PTS Student Handbook relating to student attendance issues.
Gathers and reviews attendance data to identify students who are excessively truant.
Action(s): Print daily attendance reports for tardies, truancies, and absences
Counsels students/parents regarding absenteeism and tardiness to gain cooperation and identify any underlying problems that may warrant intervention by other professional staff members. (In conjunction with social worker and guidance counselor)
Confers regularly with school staff regarding students who are chronically absent, tardy, and/or truant.
Action(s): Email communications, face-to-face conversations
Makes visits to students’ residences to develop healthy, positive family attitudes toward academic success, attendance at school and student growth and development.
Action(s): Home visits - both proactive and reactive
Advises parents/guardians of their legal responsibility to ensure school attendance.
Provides families with information related to the needs of their child and acts as a resource to parents/guardians by providing family support activities and communicating the importance of school attendance. (In conjunction with social worker and guidance counselor)
Maintains records of home visits, conversations, and completes reports of any noted conditions that may be a detriment to the safety, welfare or education of the student.
Action(s): Recorded contact logs, completion of appropriate reports, sharing of reports with the appropriate personnel
Collaborates with school staff to develop interventions for students who are truant and develops individualized plans (attendance contracts) to improve school attendance.
Action(s): Seeks out collegial feedback on attendance practices and policies from Attendance Officers in other schools, Seeks feedback from PHS teachers, administrators, and Support Staff on attendance practices and policies
Acts as a resource to administrators, guidance counselors, teachers, and health service personnel regarding attendance programs, interpretation of attendance policies/laws, and record-keeping requirements.
