St. Clair County Regional Office of Education (ROE) logo featuring a graduation cap and sunburst.

Due to the forecast of inclimate weather, our office will be closed Wednesday, January 25, 2023.

Lori Costello,
Regional Superintendent

St. Clair County Regional Office of Education (ROE) logo featuring a graduation cap and sunburst.
Professional woman with locs wearing glasses and a white shirt.


Dr. Gegi Ra-El
Assistant Superintendent

General Information

Who is a ‘Truant?’

    A “truant” is defined as a child subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without a valid cause. This is an unexcused absence.

What is a valid cause for a school absence?

  1. Illness
  2. Observance of a religious holiday
  3. Death in immediate family
  4. Family emergency
  5. Other situation beyond the control of the student as determined by the district’s board of education in each district. Needs to be a specific board policy.

Who is a “Chronic or habitual truant?”

    A child subject to compulsory school attendance who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days..

 

Forms

Local Truancy Board Outcome Form

Parent Defendant Information Form

Parent Questionnaire Form

Student Content Form

Student Questionnaire Form

Individualized Optional Education Plan

Truancy Intervention Data

Sample Letters

Procedures

After three (3) days of unexcused absences, the principal or designee should send to the parents/guardians a 3-day letter (see sample) stating the student’s days absent.  The mailing should include a copy of the following document(s):

After six (6) days of unexcused absences by a student, a Local Truancy Review Board Meeting must be scheduled.  The District Superintendent should send a letter to the parents/guardians stating the time and place of the Local Truancy Review Board meeting (see sample).  The mailing should include the following document(s):

After nine (9) days of unexcused absences, the school district should mail a nine-day notice to the parents/guardians.  The school district can now seek assistance from the Regional Office of Education, which will schedule a Regional Truancy Review Board hearing for the student and their parents/guardians.

TO SCHEDULE A REGIONAL TRUANCY REVIEW BOARD HEARING, THE ROE REQUIRES SOME DOCUMENTS AND RECOMMENDS OTHERS:

  • Student Content Form (required)
    • This document must have the Student’s SIS number.
    • If possible, please list the siblings’ names attending the district’s educational institutions.
  • Copy of the 3-day letter mailed to the parents/guardians by the school (required)
  • Copy of the 6-day letter mailed to the parents/guardians by the school (required)
  • Copy of the 9-day letter mailed to the parents/guardians by the school (required)
  • Student & Parent Questionnaires (recommended)
  • Local Truancy Review Board Outcome Form (required)
    • Complete during the Local Truancy Review Board Meeting.
  • Student Demographic Profile (required)
  • Behavioral Disciplinary Reports (if applicable, required)
  • Emergency Contact Information for Student
  • Emergency Contact Information for Student
  • Parent Defendant Information (required)
    • This document must include a description of the parent regarding race, weight, height, eye color, and hair color.
  • Truancy Interventions (required)
    • List dates on which phone calls, meetings, and home visits were conducted with the student and their parents/guardians.
  • Official Attendance and Academic Records/Transcript (required)
    • High school transcript should show credits attempted and credits earned.

Email the above documents as a PDF file or send them by regular postal mail to the ROE.  The email address is truancy@sccroe50.org.  The ROE’s mailing address is 1000 South Illinois Street, Belleville, IL  62220-2537.

After reviewing the above documents, the ROE will schedule the regional hearing by notifying the student’s parents/guardians and the school representative that the ROE has received the case.  The letter will state the time and place of the regional truancy hearing.  The ROE’s Director or Support Service Specialist will serve as the contact person for all questions about the regional truancy hearings.

Hearings are held in Cahokia and at the ROE, 1000 South Illinois Street in Belleville.  Hearings are typically scheduled every 45 minutes.

  • Hearings for Cahokia – Tuesdays and Thursdays.
  • Hearings for Other School Districts – Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Students are asked to attend the Regional Truancy Review Board hearing with their parents/guardians.  Other persons that are typically present at a hearing include:

  • Hearing Officers – St. Clair County Regional Office of Educatin personnel
  • Representatives from Education, Community, Civic, Mental Health, and Social Service Agencies
  • Appropriate School Personnel (if applicable)

The ROE’s Director of Support Services Specialist will consult families to follow up on referrals to ensure that families receive the services outlined in the student’s Individualized Optional Education Plan (IOEP) to improve their attendance.