Attendance Officer

**Description**:
**Position Information**:

- Fact Finding
- Decision Making
- Professional/Technical Expertise
- Sensory Perception Skills
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Flexibility
- Self Management
- Relationship Building

**GENERAL PURPOSE**

Under general supervision, identifies, investigates and assists in resolving chronic student attendance problems; conducts address verifications; contacts and represents the District in interactions with students and parents or legal guardians regarding attendance-related issues; and performs related duties as assigned.

**DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS**

An incumbent in this class is responsible for outreach efforts to high-risk students (students with chronic and excessive absences) and their parents and legal guardians in order to facilitate improved attendance or to refer the student to alternative education programs or other agencies.
- Attendance Officer is distinguished from Attendance Technician in that an incumbent in the former class represents the District and spends the majority of time in the field making home or in-person visits to high-risk students and parents/guardians, conducting address verifications and patrolling assigned areas.

**Duties**:
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.

1. Represents the District in interactions with high-risk students and their parents or legal guardians regarding attendance-related issues; contacts, speaks with, counsels, advises and provides support and information to high-risk students and their parents or legal guardians via telephone, home visits, work-site visits or other in-person contacts to address chronic attendance issues; as appropriate, refers students and parents or guardians to other agencies, programs and schools to address underlying problems for chronic absenteeism; compiles and delivers pertinent information and materials to students and parents/guardians.

2. Via site visits, investigates and conducts address verifications to ensure that students are legally enrolled in the District in accordance with state laws, codes and regulations and District policies and rules; within established procedures, takes appropriate follow-up actions.

3. Communicates on an ongoing basis with and maintains complete and accurate documentation for school administrators and outside agency representatives; informs supervisor of results of chronic absenteeism investigations, address verifications and student and parent/guardian contacts and, as necessary, requests management input and approvals with regard to next steps; completes and distributes all required forms, reports and other documentation and maintains current, accurate and complete records, files and reports; in compliance with state laws, codes and regulations and District policies and practices and with appropriate management approvals, notifies and communicates with other relevant agencies, such as child abuse agencies, police, district attorney and probation officers.

4. As assigned on a school and geographic area basis, identifies, investigates and assists in resolving chronic attendance problems; generates and reviews student attendance reports_ _and other attendance-related reports to identify chronic absentee problems; patrols assigned geographic areas; locates and monitors students who are not attending school; as appropriate, directs or transports truant students to school or home. Maintain appropriate documentation of all visits, interaction with parents or guardians, and students reconnecting to school.
- Other Duties_:
1. Perform clerical tasks associated with assigned duties and responsibilities.

2. Perform other duties as assigned_._

**Qualifications**:
**MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS**

**_ Knowledge of_**:
1. State laws, codes and regulations and District policies, rules and practices pertaining to student attendance and the enforcement of attendance policies.

2. Basic law enforcement procedures.

3. Personal safety precautions and procedures in potentially volatile or dangerous situations.

4. Community resources and agencies available to address underlying causes for attendance problems.

5. Basic communication, facilitation and negotiation techniques and tactics.

6. Basic adolescent psychology and group dynamic theories and practices.

7. Various cultures and traditions of students served by the District.

**_ Ability to_**:
1. Obtain and accurately assess information, some of which may be highly sensitive or confidential, via telephone contacts and site visits.

2. Observe and accurately interpret situations and individuals' actions and behaviors.

3. Organize, set priorities and exercise sound independent judgment within areas of responsibility.

4. Utilize listening, negotiation and facilitation skills i