3.14 Special Circumstance Intakes Involving Child Withdrawn from Public School

Georgia State Seal

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Child Welfare Policy Manual

Chapter:

(3) Intake

Policy Title:

Special Circumstance Intakes Involving Child Withdrawn from Public School

Policy Number:

3.14

Previous Policy Number(s):

3.28

Effective Date:

December 2021

Manual Transmittal:

2021-06

Codes/References

O.C.G.A. § 20-2-785 Referral and Assessment to Determine Whether Withdrawal was to Limit Education
O.C.G.A. § 20-2-690 Educational Entities; Requirements for Private Schools and Home Study Programs

Requirements

The Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) will:

  1. Receive intake reports involving a child withdrawn from public school when the following criteria is met:

    1. The reporter is a public school personnel;

    2. There are no allegations of child abuse;

    3. The child was withdrawn from a public school without a Home Study Program Declaration of Intent Form filed with the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE); and

    4. The child stopped attending school for a period of 45 days or more.

  2. Gather from the public school personnel the information surrounding the circumstances and method of school withdrawal.

  3. Screen-in Intake Assessments that meet the criteria for a Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School.

  4. Screen-out Intake Assessments when the information gathered does not meet the criteria for a Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School.

    Intake Assessments that do not meet the criteria for a Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School must be processed and assessed in accordance with policies 3.1 Intake: Receiving Intake Reports and 3.2 Intake: Making an Intake Decision.

  5. Notify the County Department of any assigned Special Circumstance Intake Report.

Procedures

Centralized Intake Specialist

  1. Gather information from the public school regarding the school withdrawal including the following:

    1. The last date the child attended school.

    2. The date the child was withdrawn.

    3. The individual who withdrew the child from school.

    4. Reason and method of withdrawal.

    5. If the school withdrew the child due to excessive absences, the school’s efforts to contact the parent/guardian/legal custodian and the results.

    6. If the parent/guardian/legal custodian indicated their plan to educate the child.

    7. Any other relevant information related to the child’s lack of attendance or withdrawal from school.

    8. Emergency contact information.

  2. Thoroughly evaluate all information gathered and verify the Intake Assessment meets the criteria for a Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School.

  3. Conduct safety screenings in accordance with policy 19.9 Case Management: Safety Screenings.

  4. Input the Intake Assessment into Georgia SHINES using the guidelines outlined in the Georgia SHINES Job Aid Recording School Withdrawal - No Maltreatment Alleged.

    1. Classify as a Special Circumstance School Withdrawal (No Maltreatment).

    2. Document the justification to support the case assignment recommendation.

  5. Recommend the Intake Assessment is:

    1. Screened-in when the information gathered meets the criteria for a Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School.

    2. Screened-out when the information gathered does not meet the criteria for a Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School. (Example: The child stopped attending school for 25 days.)

      Intake Assessments that do not meet the criteria for a Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School must be processed and assessed in accordance with policies 3.1 Intake: Receiving Intake Reports and 3.2 Intake: Making an Intake Decision.

  6. Participate in a supervisory staffing to discuss the intake disposition. Be prepared to discuss how the information gathered meets\ or does not meet the criteria for a Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School.

  7. Notify the County Department’s CICC Point of Contact (POC) of assigned Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School.

  8. Submit the Intake Assessment to the Centralized Intake Specialist Supervisor for approval.

Centralized Intake Specialist Supervisor

  1. Thoroughly evaluate all information gathered and review the Special Circumstance Intake Assessment in Georgia SHINES.

    1. Determine if the Intake Assessment meets the criteria for a Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School.

    2. Verify the Intake Assessment is classified as a Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School.

    3. Document the supervisor’s justification to support the case assignment decision.

  2. Staff the Intake Assessment with the Centralized Intake Specialist in accordance with policy 19.6 Case Management: Supervisor Staffing.

  3. Screen-in the Intake Assessment when the information gathered meets the criteria for a Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School.

    1. Stage progress the Intake Assessment to a Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School.

    2. Assign the Special Circumstance to the County Department’s CICC POC.

  4. Screen-out the Intake Assessment when the information gathered does not meet the criteria for a Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School.

    Intake Assessments that do not meet the criteria for a Special Circumstance Child Withdrawn from Public School must be processed and assessed in accordance with policies 3.1 Intake: Receiving Intake Reports and 3.2 Intake: Making an Intake Decision.

Practice Guidance

Georgia law requires that students attend a public or private school or participate in a home study program from their sixth to their 16th birthday. Public kindergarten is available in every school system, but it is not mandatory. Parents/guardians/legal custodians who teach their children at home are required by law to submit to the GaDOE an annual Home Study Program Declaration of Intent Form within 30 days after establishment of a home study program and by September 1st annually thereafter. In the event that a child is withdrawn from a public school without a declaration filed and that child stops attending a public school for a period of 45 days, the school is required to refer the matter to DFCS to conduct an assessment to determine whether the withdrawal of the child from school was to avoid educating the child.

Forms and Tools

N/A