The Office of Compulsory School Attendance Enforcement is aware of a number of truancy referrals that have been routed to Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services (MDCPS) by districts within the state instead of to the assigned School Attendance Officer (SAO) for the district. Please be reminded that the assigned Mississippi Department of Education SAO for each district is, by statute, the individual to whom truancy related issues should be reported. SAOs are currently reaching out to superintendents or designees for a meeting to discuss attendance reporting and any important issues regarding the district’s overall student attendance goals.
Should someone in the district suspect child abuse or neglect, as mandatory reporters district staff must contact MDCPS immediately, and if the matter involves truancy related issues as the root cause, district staff are to contact the assigned SAO immediately. If that contact is unsuccessful, please contact the appropriate SAO Supervisor for your district:
Allison Crain
Northern District Supervisor
acrain@mdek12.org
Cheryl Mickens
Central District Supervisor
cmickens@mdek12.org
Patrick Flagg
Southern District Supervisor
pflagg@mdek12.org
We look forward to our continued collaboration in supporting the positive attendance and academic achievements of students in our great state! Our goal is to support you in your efforts. Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Office of Compulsory School Attendance.
Please direction any questions to lharrison@mdek12.org.