The Becca Bill

1
The Becca Bill

• W.E.R.A. Conference
• Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007
• Dr. Dale Alan McDaniel
• Washington State University
• and the Onalaska School District

2
The Becca Bill

• Introduction and A Story

3
Significance of the Becca Bill

• Implications

4
The Becca Bill
The Essential Questions

• Which judicial programs have the greatest impact
  on changing student attendance patterns?

5
Becca Bill

• What type of relationship exists between courts,
  schools and families that best creates a
  successful environment for students?

6
Becca Bill

• What does a good program look like to an
  at-risk student that wants to come back to
  school?

7
Becca Bill

• How do we design attendance programs that
  successfully return truant students to school?

8
Evolution of the Law

• High Juvenile Crime Rate

• At-Risk Youth Petitions

• Old Truancy Law

• Poor Data Collection by Public Schools

The Becca Bill

• Children In Need of Services (C.H.I.N.S.)

• Social Workers and Legislative Pressure

• Parents Coalition

• Street Kids

9
Policy Formation-Egon Guba

• Policy of Idea
• (Intention)

Policy of Action
Policy of Experience
10
Recruiting Interviewees

• District/County Partnerships suggested by
• Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration
• Washington Association of School Administrators
• Washington State School Directors Association

11
Selection Criteria

• School Size
• Number of Filings
• Geographic Location
• Administrative Approval

12
Data Collection

• 29 Total Interviews-
• 84 Unduplicated Subjects
• School Administrators
• Legislators
• Juvenile Court Employees
• Parents
• Students

13
Recruiting Partnerships

• Partnerships Chosen
• Kelso S.D./ Cowlitz County
• Vancouver S.D./Clark County
• North Thurston S.D./ Thurston County

14
Best Practices

• Where .....
• Truancy prevention was collaborative
• Schools took the first step with parents.
• Early intervention programs were available
• Truancy boards existed, with authority
• The possibility of detention existed.

15
Why Students Skip School(And How Becca Helps)

• Frustration
• Boredom
• Being Bullied
• Not known by teachers
• Perceived failure (credits)
• Organizational Problems

16
Conclusions

• Becca has become institutionalized

• It still has funding problems

• It is perceived to be working

• It needs new people trained

• Flexibility matters!