MEMS is piloting Project Attend, the program which addresses students with excessive absences. The goal is to improve school attendance and to identify and assist students who may be at risk due to excessive absenteeism. Parents play a major role in the child's attendance at school, and parents are an important component of this program. Students who have legitimate illnesses or are absent for "exceptional" reasons will be excluded from this program.

The process is as follows:

Step 1 -      A letter is sent home by the school administration. (Nine days absent or three truancies)

Step 2 -     The school district superintendent sends a letter home.  (Ten days absent or five truancies)

Step 3 -     A Student Attendance Review Team (SART) meeting will take place with the county attorney. (Fifteen days absent or six truancies)

Step 4 -     Referral to the Coconino County attorney if no improvement takes place after Step 3.