Sutter County Superintendent of Schools - Child Welfare and Attendance

Child Welfare and Attendance

ABOUT

According to the California Department of Education, “Child Welfare and Attendance is a specialized student support service that covers compliance with compulsory education laws, student admission and enrollment procedures, student discipline procedures, transfers to alternative programs, and school climate and safety. Child welfare and attendance combines the knowledge and skill of counseling with knowledge of education and the law to resolve complicated situations involving school choice, student discipline, campus safety, and programs for high-risk youth.”

Under Assembly Bill 2815, Student Support and Outreach offers and provides countywide child welfare and attendance services per legislation (California Education Code (EC) sections 48240–48244). These supports include;

Attendance Training & Supports

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Attendance

Student Support and Outreach (SSO) provides attendance training and technical assistance to LEAs throughout the academic year.

EARLY IDENTIFICATION

Schools are in a key position to identify children with behavior and/or attendance concerns. Because early symptoms can lead to more serious problems later on, it’s important that prevention strategies be implemented early on in the pupil’s schooling. A system should be in place for preventive work to begin immediately upon enrollment and should include intensive case work for irregular attendance and/or noticeable behavior issues. School-site attendance and administrative personnel should monitor pupils’ records and behavior frequently and should initiate appropriate intervention strategies if attendance or behavior patterns warrant intervention. Any intervention should be tailored to the pupil and family strengths and assist them to assume responsibility for their behaviors.

INTERVENTIONS

Schools and SARBs have many options for addressing attendance or behavior problems. Collectively, they can find the most appropriate solution for each student and family. Schools need to explore their possible options prior to involving SARB, but SARB is an invaluable aid in suggesting or enforcing one or more of the following strategies:

Use developmental assets assessment of student and parent or guardian.
Conduct staff conferences to discuss the pupil’s specific needs.
Change the student’s schedule and/or instructor.
Request an intra-district transfer.
Suggest that the parent or guardian obtain a medical evaluation of the pupil to rule out any physical reasons that might be a barrier to the pupil’s education. Be sure to obtain a medical exchange of information form signed by the parent or guardian or person in charge.
Refer the pupil to a school psychologist or to resources in the community that can assist the pupil and family, when appropriate.
Use alternative educational programs, such as flexible class scheduling (early/late classes), career technical education (work experience), opportunity classes and pregnant-minor classes for pupils, when needed.
Provide the parent with necessary information for possible placement in specialized programs, which may include AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination), magnet schools, school-within-a-school, or special education, or for developing a Section 504 accommodation plans.

Chronic Absenteeism Campaign

Join the Campaign! Click here for Attendance Works resources to help your school plan, promote and post.

County SARB

SARB Overview:

The School Attendance Review Board (SARB) is a collaborative process that brings together school and community partners to help address persistent student attendance or behavior concerns.

The purpose of SARB is to identify and address barriers that may be affecting a student’s ability to attend school regularly and succeed in school. SARB works with students and families to connect them with appropriate school and community resources, develop supportive strategies, and monitor progress.

SARB is part of a continuum of attendance support. Schools typically work with students and families through prevention, early identification, and school-based interventions before making a referral to SARB. When attendance or behavior concerns persist despite these efforts, SARB may provide a more intensive level of support and intervention.

What to Expect

During the SARB process, the team may:

Review the student’s attendance and/or behavior information.
Learn more about the circumstances and barriers affecting school attendance or behavior.
Work collaboratively with the student and parent/guardian to identify possible solutions.
Connect the student and family with appropriate school and community resources.
Develop an attendance and/or behavior plan with specific supports and expectations.
Monitor progress and follow up with the student and family.

The California Department of Education (CDE) emphasizes that effective SARB practices should be supportive rather than punitive or judgmental and should be grounded in caring, compassion, and partnership with students and families.

Our Goal

The goal of SARB is to support students in overcoming barriers to regular school attendance, re-engage students in their education, and help students remain in school and succeed.

SARB recognizes that attendance concerns can have many causes. By working together with students, families, schools, and community partners, we can better understand those challenges and identify resources and strategies that promote improved attendance, engagement, and educational success.

In situations where attendance or behavior concerns continue, and available interventions and community resources have been exhausted; SARB may have the authority to take additional action as provided by California law.

SARB Process:

SARB Referral Checklist - link here
SARB Referral Form - link here
SARB Citation Request - link here
SARB Citation Process

SARB Agency:

Community Member
Live Oak Unified School District
Sutter County Superintendent of Schools
Sutter County Child Welfare Services
Sutter County Probation
Sutter-Yuba Behavioral Health

Member of CASCWA

CASCWA is the only professional organization in the State of California for professionals in the fields of "Child Welfare and Attendance."

CASCWA became an organization in the late 1940's. CASCWA's membership is strong and growing. The professional interaction that exist is more important today than it has ever been!

SSO Director Virginia Bisby and Program Analyst Kao Lee Vang are active members of the California Association of Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance (CASCWA) Delta Sierra Section Board. Through their service, they support the Section's mission of providing meaningful communication, resources, and professional support to Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) professionals while promoting student success throughout the region.

Each school year, the Delta Sierra Section Board offers professional development workshops and trainings focused on current issues, trends, and best practices in Child Welfare and Attendance. These learning opportunities help education professionals expand their knowledge, strengthen professional networks, and enhance the services they provide to students and families.

In addition to its professional development efforts, the Board oversees the Rich C. Davis Scholarship Program, which recognizes the perseverance and resilience of students who have overcome significant personal challenges to complete their high school education. In 2027, the Delta Sierra Section will award $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from continuation or alternative education programs who plan to pursue higher education or vocational training. The 2027 Rich C. Davis Scholarship Application will open in January 2027.

Most recently, the CASCWA Delta Sierra Section hosted the 89th Annual CASCWA State Conference at the Hyatt Regency Sacramento in March 2026. The conference brought together Child Welfare and Attendance professionals from across California to collaborate, share best practices, discuss emerging challenges and trends, and strengthen strategies that support student attendance, engagement, and academic success.

To learn more about the Delta Sierra Section, visit their webpage link here