I received a summons to appear in juvenile court with my child because she missed 17 1/2 days of school throughout the year. This apparently was in violation of the Compulsory School Attendance Act in Arkansas (my family moved here from Oregon 9 months ago) According to the school, these absences were unexcused.
I did in fact send a note to school that the school either didn't receive (child didn't turn in) or didn't give credit for (they want a doctors note even if the child didn't go to a doctor). There were also days my child had to miss school (or part of a day), as a result of an appointment their mother had that would have left no one at home to meet child upon return from school. When we would pick child up from school early to meet these appointments a check out board was sign in the schools office. I think they are calling these unexcused too, due to not having a doctors note but am unsure.
The school also claims that my wife and I were counseled on this matter, which neither of us were. We did receive a note from the school at the end of the year informing us of the Compulsory School Attendance Act and how our child had missed an excess number of days, by then though it was too late for us to do anything. We had no idea they were not getting our notes or if those notes were acceptable or not.
What should I expect at this hearing? Is this something I can be prosecuted for? Also should I asked for or obtain legal representation before I go? I just need some helpful advise and info.
I did in fact send a note to school that the school either didn't receive (child didn't turn in) or didn't give credit for (they want a doctors note even if the child didn't go to a doctor). There were also days my child had to miss school (or part of a day), as a result of an appointment their mother had that would have left no one at home to meet child upon return from school. When we would pick child up from school early to meet these appointments a check out board was sign in the schools office. I think they are calling these unexcused too, due to not having a doctors note but am unsure.
The school also claims that my wife and I were counseled on this matter, which neither of us were. We did receive a note from the school at the end of the year informing us of the Compulsory School Attendance Act and how our child had missed an excess number of days, by then though it was too late for us to do anything. We had no idea they were not getting our notes or if those notes were acceptable or not.
What should I expect at this hearing? Is this something I can be prosecuted for? Also should I asked for or obtain legal representation before I go? I just need some helpful advise and info.
