Minnesota Statutes 260A.04 – Community-Based Truancy Projects and Service Centers
Subdivision 1.Establishment.
(a) Community-based truancy projects and service centers may be established to:
Terms Used In Minnesota Statutes 260A.04
- children: includes children by birth or adoption;
(9) "day" comprises the time from midnight to the next midnight;
(10) "fiscal year" means the year by or for which accounts are reckoned;
(11) "hereafter" means a reference to the time after the time when the law containing such word takes effect;
(12) "heretofore" means a reference to the time previous to the time when the law containing such word takes effect;
(13) "judicial sale" means a sale conducted by an officer or person authorized for the purpose by some competent tribunal;
(14) "minor" means an individual under the age of 18 years;
(15) "money" means lawful money of the United States;
(16) "night time" means the time from sunset to sunrise;
(17) "non compos mentis" refers to an individual of unsound mind;
(18) "notary" means a notary public;
(19) "now" in any provision of a law referring to other laws in force, or to persons in office, or to any facts or circumstances as existing, relates to the laws in force, or to the persons in office, or to the facts or circumstances existing, respectively, on the effective date of such provision;
(20) "verified" when used in reference to writings, means supported by oath or affirmation. See Minnesota Statutes 645.45
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Minnesota Statutes 645.44
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- Probation officers: Screen applicants for pretrial release and monitor convicted offenders released under court supervision.
(1) provide for identification of students with school attendance problems;
(2) facilitate the provision of services geared to address the underlying issues that are contributing to a student’s truant behavior; and
(3) provide facilities to receive truant students from peace officers and probation officers.
(b) Truancy projects and service centers may provide any of these services and shall provide for referral of children and families to other appropriate programs and services.
Subd. 2.Community-based action projects.
Schools, community agencies, law enforcement, parent associations, and other interested groups may cooperate to provide coordinated intervention, prevention, and educational services for truant students and their families. Services may include:
(1) assessment for underlying issues that are contributing to the child’s truant behavior;
(2) referral to other community-based services for the child and family, such as individual or family counseling, educational testing, psychological evaluations, tutoring, mentoring, and mediation;
(3) transition services to integrate the child back into school and to help the child succeed once there;
(4) culturally sensitive programming and staffing; and
(5) increased school response, including in-school suspension, better attendance monitoring and enforcement, after-school study programs, and in-service training for teachers and staff.
Subd. 3.Truancy service centers.
(a) Truancy service centers may be established as facilities to receive truant students from peace officers and probation officers and provide other appropriate services. A truancy service center may:
(1) assess a truant student’s attendance situation, including enrollment status, verification of truancy, and school attendance history;
(2) assist in coordinating intervention efforts where appropriate, including checking with juvenile probation and children and family services to determine whether an active case is pending and facilitating transfer to an appropriate facility, if indicated; and evaluating the need for and making referral to a health clinic, substance use disorder treatment, protective services, social or recreational programs, or other school or community-based services and programs described in subdivision 2;
(3) contact the parents or legal guardian of the truant student and release the truant student to the custody of the parents, guardian, or other suitable person; and
(4) facilitate the student’s earliest possible return to school.
(b) Truancy service centers may not accept:
(1) juveniles taken into custody for violations of law that would be crimes if committed by adults;
(2) intoxicated juveniles;
(3) ill or injured juveniles; or
(4) juveniles older than mandatory school attendance age.
(c) Truancy service centers may expand their service capability in order to receive curfew violators and take appropriate action, such as coordination of intervention efforts, contacting parents, and developing strategies to ensure that parents assume responsibility for their children’s curfew violations.