ATTENDANCE OFFICER 

DEFINITION

Position oversees daily attendance of students between the ages of 6 and 15, investigates all cases where a child in the district fails to attend school, offers services and recommendations for students with chronic attendance issues and/or at risk of dropping out, and ensures compliance with Massachusetts laws relating to education and attendance. Employees are required to perform all similar or related duties. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

The essential functions or 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 the position. 

• Provide support to students, parents, and K-8 faculty including offering early intervention services and innovative and creative recommendations to and for students with erratic or chronic attendance issues
• Identify and conduct home visits for students with erratic attendance patterns, as well as residency compliance 
• Collaborate with K-12 faculty and support staff and administration to improve attendance and residency compliance for the district 
• Coordinate and attend parent, student, and support staff meetings 
• Oversee the attendance data collection system for K-12 students 
• Ensure compliance with compulsory school attendance and residency laws, Chapter 71, 72, 76, 101, 119,149, 766 and 1073 of the Massachusetts General Laws, as amended to date, relating to education and school attendance, the care and treatment of neglected and delinquent children, and to the employment of minors insofar as they pertain to the duties of a attendance officer 
• Provide advice and counsel in the development and implementation of educational support programs which are responsive to all students within the district and provide support to district-wide 
• Document all interventions in the district-wide database, maintain records and information on residency/attendance, and will be required to visit homes to verify residency.
• Perform other duties assigned on an as needed basis 

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree
• Two years working as a parole, probation, or law enforcement official working with juveniles 
• Minimum of 18 graduate credits in psychology, school counseling, social work, or related field at an accredited college 
• A combination of experience working with school-age children in a school setting or a non-school setting deemed acceptable by the Department and education in psychology, guidance, social work at an accredited college, and/or related field 
• Must have a vehicle available for use for home visits. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. 
• A minimum of 1-3 years of relevant experience 
• Excellent organization skills and accurate typing and word processing skills. 
• Knowledgeable in the use of technology and software including database software, word processing, and spreadsheet applications in support of District operations. 
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and outstanding skills in working with youth with patience and understanding. 
• Candidate must demonstrate knowledge of the laws concerning school attendance and of services available to children with attendance problems and must satisfy at least one of the following requirements: 

QUALIFICATIONS PREFERRED: 

• Associate’s degree 
• EPS respects linguistic diversity and believes that candidates who speak another language bring value to the district culture and diversity. 

TERM: 

The Attendance Officer is a 12 month, full time position. Applicants for this position must commit to work a flexible schedule including early mornings, evenings and weekends based on school, family and district needs. 

SCOPE OF EMPLOYMENT 

Supervision Required 

Under general supervision. The employee is familiar with the work routine and uses initiative in carrying out recurring assignments independently with specific instruction. The supervisor provides additional, specific instruction for new, difficult or unusual assignments, including suggested work methods. The employee refers unusual situations to the supervisor for advice and further instructions. 

Accountability 

The nature of the work means that errors in administrative work are not easily detected. Consequences of errors, including inaccurate information, could impact other departments and result in monetary loss, interruption of service and poor internal or external customer service. 

Judgment 

The work requires examining, analyzing and evaluating facts and circumstances surrounding individual problems, situations or transactions, and determining actions to be taken within the limits of standard or accepted practices. Guidelines include a large body of policies, practices and precedents which may be complex or conflicting, at times. Judgment is used in analyzing specific situations to determine appropriate actions. Employees are expected to weigh efficiency and relative priorities in conjunction with procedural concerns in decision making. Requires understanding, interpreting and applying federal, state and local regulations. 

Complexity 

The work consists of the practical application of a variety of concepts, practices and specialized techniques relating to a professional or technical field. Assignments typically involve evaluation and interpretation of factors, conditions or unusual circumstances; inspecting, testing or evaluating compliance with established standards or criteria; gathering, analyzing and evaluating facts or data using specialized fact finding techniques; or determining the methods to accomplish the work. 

Nature and Purpose of Public Contact 

Relationships are constantly with co-workers, the public, groups and/or individuals such as peers from other organizations, and representatives of professional organizations. The employee serves as a spokesperson or recognized authority of the organization in matters of substance or considerable importance, including departmental practices, procedures, regulations or guidelines. May be required to discuss controversial matters where tact is required to avoid friction and obtain cooperation. 

Confidentiality 

Employees may have regular access at the departmental level to a variety of confidential information. 

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill 

Knowledge of the laws concerning school attendance and services available to children with attendance problems. 

Work Environment 

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Incumbents may be required to work beyond normal business hours and meet with clients in homes, courts, police stations, jails or hospitals. 

Physical and Mental Requirements 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions. 

Physical Skills 

Minimal physical demands are required to perform most of the work. The work principally involves sitting, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. May be required to lift objects such as files, boxes of papers, office supplies, and office equipment weighing up to 30 pounds. 

Motor Skills 

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job may occasionally require minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, using office equipment, including but not limited to telephones, personal computers, handheld technology, and other office equipment.

Visual Skills 

Visual demands require routinely reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.

Everett Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.