Re-engagement Programs (Years 7 to 10)

Managing students in re-engagement programs

Re-engagement program providers must regularly record and report attendance arrangements to the student’s enrolling school. The enrolling school must record student attendance in CASES21 under ‘613 Re-engagement Program’.

Recording and reporting attendance

Re-engagement providers must:

• keep an attendance roll at least twice daily of attendance and absence, in line with requirements for all schools
• report attendance to the school on at least a weekly basis
• report any student absences to the enrolling school on the same day, including the reason for the absence.

Enrolling schools must:

• record students attending a re-engagement program on CASES21 using absence code '613 Re-engagement program'
• if advised of a student absence from re-engagement program on a day of scheduled attendance, record the absence on CASES21 using the appropriate code, according to the reason for the absence
• regularly check in with the provider on the student’s attendance progress as needed
• discuss attendance strategies at quarterly IEP meetings.

Students on Modified Timetables (Reduced Hours)

Students are expected to attend their Re-engagement Program during the hours it is open for instruction. In some instances, it may be agreed it is in the best interests of the student to have a modified timetable to reduce hours for an agreed period of time while attending their Re-engagement Program. This can only occur in line with the situations described in the Modified (Reduced Hours) Timetable policy, such as to support re-engagement or for medical reasons.

Any modified timetable arrangements need to be agreed with the student’s parent/carer and approved and signed by the principal of the school which holds the student’s enrolment. All modified timetable arrangements must also include a Modified Timetable Agreement and accompanying signed Consent Form as described in the Modified (Reduced Hours) Timetable policy.

When a student is not in attendance at their Re-engagement Program because the setting does not offer full-time hours, and where no other arrangement is in place (for either a modified timetable or for attendance at another educational setting), the student must be recorded as ‘exempt’ (code 802), rather than as ‘absent’ during those hours. For all other absence reasons, please refer to the Attendance and Absence Recording Guide in the Resources tab of the department’s Attendance policy.

Policy compliance and responsibilities

In order to allow a student to participate in a re-engagement program offsite with a provider, the enrolling school must take reasonable steps to ensure that the policies and procedures of the department and school are being adhered to by the provider, for example the department’s policies in the Policy and Advisory Library (PAL) relating to:

• enrolment
• duty of care
• supervision (onsite and online if applicable)
• excursions
• attendance
• child safe standards
• maintenance of records and reporting.

These policies are referenced in the standard 7 to 10 contract template, and details of specific roles and responsibilities related to these policy requirements are agreed by the school and the provider in the contract’s responsibilities matrix. The cover sheet and standard 7 to 10 contract templates are available in the Resources tab.

School oversight of students

Schools and re-engagement providers should maintain regular contact regarding the enrolled student. At a minimum, this includes meeting once per term to discuss:

• attendance at the program, including strategies to address non-attendance
• progression of the student’s individual education plan
• progression of the student’s transition plan back to mainstream education.

Manager – Youth Pathways and Transitions obligations and responsibilities for re-engagement programs

• Be a key contact and support for schools regarding all issues with re-engagement programs
• Provide guidance and support to schools when deciding to enter a partnership with a re-engagement provider
• Review the standard 7 to 10 contract, including the funding levels and any additional funding streams proposed by the school
• Support schools to seek regional director endorsement via the contract cover sheet
• Escalate issues and concerns to the regional director as required
• Escalate any non-compliance issues to Schools and Regional Services to determine best course of action

Regional Director obligations and responsibilities for re-engagement programs

• Review and endorse re-engagement program partnerships via the contract cover sheet, based on advice from the Manager – Youth Pathways and Transitions
• Be a point of escalation for contractual disputes