4. Who can approve a Section 24, Alternative Attendance Arrangement? Section 24, Alternative Attendance Arrangements are approved by the principal.

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1 Section 24, Alternative Attendance Arrangements A principal may agree for a student enrolled at their school to temporarily attend another school or off-site educational program in accordance with Section 24 of the School Education Act What is a Section 24, Alternative Attendance Arrangement? A Section 24 alternative attendance arrangement is an arrangement between the principal and the parent, or the student (if the student is considered an independent minor), and documents the arrangement(s) to be made for the student to temporarily attend another school or off-site educational program, whilst maintaining their enrolment. The school or alternative provider must also approve the suitability of the program for the student. The student remains enrolled and the arrangement is overseen by the student s enrolled school. This arrangement can be used in instances where the student is attending elsewhere for a particular period of the school year or during a particular period each week. 2. Examples of when a Section 24, Alternative Attendance Arrangement is suitable When the student is temporarily attending an educational program delivered by: another school; a Public Registered Training Provider (formerly TAFE) or Private Registered Training Provider (RTO) course (full-time or part-time, 6 months or less); a community based course; or Hospital School Services. 3. When should Section 24, Alternative Attendance Arrangements be considered? Generally, Section 24 Arrangements are applicable in the following situations: when it is considered in the best interests of a student to participate in an educational program that does not include full-time attendance at the school in which they are enrolled; or when students are not able to attend their enrolled school and need to attend another school in a different location for a relatively short period of time. 4. Who can approve a Section 24, Alternative Attendance Arrangement? Section 24, Alternative Attendance Arrangements are approved by the principal. 5. Procedures for approving a Section 24, Alternative Attendance Arrangement? The arrangement between the principal and the parent should be formally documented. A template is available in Appendix 1. The principal should appoint a staff member to oversee the student s participation in the off-site program. This includes: consulting with the student s parent/s; consulting with the alternative school/provider; assessment of the environment of the alternative arrangement to ensure the student s duty of care needs, including health needs, will be met (may involve a site visit to the provider); maintenance of attendance and achievement records. 1

2 6. Attendance, Behaviour and Academic Records As the student remains enrolled, normal record-keeping requirements still apply in accordance with the School Education Act The enrolled school is responsible for making arrangements to obtain academic, behaviour and attendance records regularly from the alternative school or provider. Attendance is recorded by the enrolled school using the E code in the Lesson Attendance module of the School Information System (SIS). Absence from the program is recorded as for all other students. 7. Duty of Care The school maintains a shared duty of care for the student during the time of the Section 24, Alternative Attendance Arrangement. As such, the principal should ensure provisions outlined in the Duty of Care for Public School Students policy will be met. This will involve an initial risk assessment to determine the alternative school or provider meets the Department s requirements and the exchange of information with regard to health care requirements. Once the arrangement has been approved, the school should continue to review the arrangement to ensure these requirements are still being met. 8. How long does a Section 24 Arrangement last for and what happens when it ends? Section 24, Alternative Attendance Arrangements are temporary and as such, should be end-dated. Principals can also terminate the arrangement at any stage if they deem this course of action to be in the best interest of the student. When the arrangement has finished, the student should return to fulltime school unless another arrangement is entered into. Further information Schools should contact the relevant Education Regional Office 2

3 APPENDIX 1 Alternative Attendance Arrangement In accordance with Section 24, School Education Act 1999 This arrangement enables the student to temporarily attend at another school or off-site educational program whilst maintaining their enrolment at school. Schools should consult with their Education Regional Office if requiring advice regarding whether a Section 24, Alternative Attendance Arrangement is appropriate for each circumstance, particularly regarding year 11 and 12 students. SECTION 1 STUDENT DETAILS Student Date of birth Parent/guardian Address Telephone SECTION 2 ARRANGEMENT DETAILS attendance at a training course or community-based course Go to Section 3 attendance at another school Go to Section 4 Summary of reasons for seeking this alternative attendance arrangement: Frequency and length of arrangement: (ie. particular period of the school year, particular period in each week of the school year, part of the school year include dates) I understand and give consent for my son/daughter to undertake alternative education under this arrangement Yes No Parent/legal guardian name Parent/legal guardian signature Date [Date] 4

4 SECTION 3 COURSE DETAILS (Completed by Community or Training Provider, if applicable) Community or Training Provider Address Course/program Commencement date End date Total number of hours per week Number of hours per day (if applicable) Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun confirms that (name of Community or Community Training Provider) has a provisional enrolment in: approved by: (name of student) or (name of program) Community or Training Provider representative Position Direct contact Signature Date 5

5 SECTION 4 ALTERNATIVE PUBLIC SCHOOL (Responsibilities to be completed by principal of enrolling school and principal of the school providing alternative program) Attendance (Days and times at alternative school site) Curriculum delivery (If relevant, arrangements to ensure all learning areas are covered) Reporting (How will reporting on the student s attendance, behaviour and academic performance at the alternative school site be recorded and communicated to the enrolling school and parents?) Shared resourcing (Outline any resources that will be shared between the two schools, e.g. teacher or education assistant time) 6

6 SECTION 5 FOR SCHOOL USE ONLY SCHOOL DETAILS (To be completed by school where student is currently enrolled) School name School address School telephone number School fax number Year level child enrolled in Number of years at this school Student Number Comments about student (Include details of attendance, behaviour, health care requirements, attitude, achievement, peer interaction, attach information as appropriate) Name of school coordinator Principal Signature Date APPROVAL AND REVIEW SCHEDULE FOR SECTION 24 ARRANGEMENT Review date 1 Continue Cancel Date: Comments Review date 2 Continue Cancel Date: Comments Review date 3 Continue Cancel Date: Comments 7

7 [PRINT ON SCHOOL LETTERHEAD] CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL ALTERNATIVE ATTENDANCE ARRANGEMENT in accordance with the School Education Act 1999 (Section 24) A Section 24, Alternative Attendance Arrangement for the following student is approved: [DOB] [YEAR] [SCHOOL] Details of the arrangement are as follows: The student will be attending [Alternative provider/school] at [Address line one] [Address line two]. The relevant contact at the alternate school/provider is [Name of contact at alternative school/provider]. [Outline duration and times of the arrangement]. [Outline any other relevant details including sharing of resources]. This arrangement will be overseen by [name of nominated staff member at enrolled school] which will include regular consultation with [parent name] and [Alternative provider/school line one] [Alternative provider/school line two]. In the event that I terminate the arrangement, it will be expected that [student name] will resume attendance at this school, unless another arrangement is negotiated. [PRINCPAL S NAME] PRINCIPAL [SCHOOL NAME] [Date] Copy to: PARENT/S ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL/PROVIDER STUDENT FILE 8