Attendance Support & ATF Referral Process 

Disclaimer: The Chronic Absenteeism Flowchart provided by Mr. McGavin takes precedence and should be used as a guiding tool. However, I wanted to share my tiered support as the SSW to provide insight into my involvement. 

My Tiered Attendance Support Approach

Tier I: School-Level Contact & Documentation

• School staff (teachers, clerks, administrators) monitor and document attendance daily.

• When a student reaches 3 unexcused absences, schools should initiate parent/guardian contact and document the communication.

• These early efforts help identify patterns and establish a foundation for support.
  
  

Tier II: Counselor-Led Intervention (5–6 Unexcused Absences)

• At this stage, the School Counselor or other Designated staff leads intervention efforts.

• Strategies may include:

  • Parent meetings

  • Check-ins with students

  • Referrals to in-school supports (Mental Health Clinician etc.)

• As the School Social Worker, I am not involved at this stage unless additional barriers emerge (e.g., homelessness, mental health needs, family crisis).
  
  

Tier III: School Social Worker Involvement (7+ Unexcused Absences)

• Once a student reaches 7 or more unexcused absences, I begin involvement only after school-level efforts are documented in Infinite campus.
  
  

• I will:

  • Review the student’s attendance history and intervention notes

  • Attempt contact with the family via phone, letter, or home visit (if needed)

  • Address any identified barriers to attendance

  • Provide referrals to community-based resources as appropriate
    
    

ATF Referrals (15+ Unexcused Absences)

I initiate referrals to the Attendance Task Force (ATF) only when the following criteria are met:

• The student has 15 or more unexcused absences

• The school has documented multiple previous attempts to contact and engage the family at Tiers I and II

• There is evidence of unmet needs or chronic disengagement that have not improved with prior interventions

Please note: I will not complete or submit an ATF referral if documentation of earlier efforts is missing or insufficient.

The ATF includes representatives from Spalding Collaborative, Student Support Services Director, School Social Worker, the Truancy Officer, DFCS, Juvenile Court, State Court, City & County Law Enforcement, Mental Health Clinician. The purpose is to coordinate additional interventions or legal oversight when all other supports have been exhausted.

Your Role in the Process

To help ensure timely and effective support, please:

• Document all contact attempts and interventions in Infinite Campus 

• Inform me once a student reaches 7 unexcused absences and prior steps have been completed. I will also pull attendance reports.

• Continue family engagement efforts in collaboration with me and your school team

• Maintain consistent communication regarding follow-up plans