John Meixner, Regional Superintendent of Schools
Fulton | Hancock | McDonough | Schuyler

Project Stay In: Truancy Intervention Program

The goal of Project Stay In, a Truancy Intervention Program, is to support K-12 schools in identifying, intervening, and remedying factors contributing to Chronic Truancy. 

Project Stay In focuses on helping students and families restore regular attendance, develop consistent school routines, and remove barriers in an effort to improve and achieve academic success.

Student Missing from Classroom
Source of image: Kappan

What is Chronic Truancy?

In Illinois, chronic truancy generally refers to a student who is absent from school without a valid excuse for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days. Specifically, according to Illinois law (105 ILCS 5/26-2a), a "chronic truant" is defined as a child subject to compulsory school attendance who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for 5% or more of the previous 180 regular attendance days.

Submitting Referrals

Students experiencing attendance challenges may be referred to the ROE26’s Project Stay In program by their school district.

If attendance does not improve despite initial school interventions and subsequent efforts by our staff, the Regional Office of Education may initiate truancy proceedings, potentially involving the court system.


Attendance and Family Support Specialists

Abby Beck

Abby Beck
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (309) 575-3257

Doug Bradley
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (309) 575-3248 ext. 1035

April Yerbic
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (309) 575-3252 ext. 1031

FAQs

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