Truancy Intervention

Minnesota State Statute Requires That Children Attend School.

A child is considered "habitually truant" if they are under the age of 17 years and absent from attendance at school, without lawful excuse for one or more class periods on seven school days per school year (if the child is in middle school, junior high school, or high school), or if they are 17 years of age and absent from attendance at school, without lawful excuse for one or more class periods on seven school days per school year, and has not lawfully withdrawn from school under section 120A.22, subdivision 8.

Between the age of 12 and 17 and through the 17th year, it is primarily the student’s responsibility to get to school on a daily basis. Children who are age 17 must be lawfully withdrawn from school by their parent or guardian.  Children cannot independently “drop out” of school until they reach age 18.

For those youth who are having attendance issues and who meet the definition of "continuing truant" for the first time, (i.e. absent from attendance at school, without lawful excuse for one or more class periods on five school days per school year (if the child is in middle school, junior high school, or high school), Le Sueur County offers voluntary preventative and supportive services to students and families. Families interested in receiving preventative support from a Truancy Worker, can request to have the Truancy Worker attend the student's 5-day meeting at school to help develop a school support plan, and meet with the student at school regularly to check attendance, grades, and provide support, referrals, and incentives to improving attendance.

For those youth who are having attendance issues and who meet the definition of "habitually truant" for the first time, Le Sueur County offers diversion from court proceedings with the goal of addressing the youth’s attendance issues through providing referrals and supports, along with consequences for continued poor attendance. For repeat youth who are habitually truant or fail to successfully complete diversion, court proceedings may occur.

To learn more about the Truancy program, please contact:

Maggie Nicolin
mnicolin@co.le-sueur.mn.us
507-357-8287

Truancy Documents

Guides & Reference

  1. Ed Neglect and Truancy County Contacts 2024
  2. MN Truancy Statutes 2024
  3. School Response Cheat Sheet- Truancy 2024
  4. Spanish- Final Truancy Policy
  5. Truancy Policy 2022

School Letter Templates

  1. 10 day excused absence cut-off Letter Template
  2. 3 Day Unexcused Letter Template
  3. 5 day excused absence warning of 10 day cut-off Letter Template
  4. 5 Unexcused Absence Letter Template
  5. 7 Unexcused Absence Letter Template

5-day Meeting

  1. School Release of Information for Supportive Truancy Services
  2. School Support Plan
  3. SPA AUTHORIZATION FOR RELEASE OF INFORMATION
  4. Spanish- School Support Plan
  5. Spanish- Truancy Brochure 2022
  6. Truancy Brochure 2022

Referral

  1. Spanish-Truancy Referral Form
  2. Truancy Referral Form