5215 - MISSING AND ABSENT CHILDREN

It is the intent of this Board of Education to cooperate with local, State, and National efforts to decrease the number of missing children. For the purposes of this policy, the following definitions apply:

"Absent child" means a child who left the child's parents or approved placement through social services and whose whereabouts are known, but who refuses to return. This involves children who are runaways but not known to be missing.

"Missing child" means a child whose whereabouts are unknown, which may include abducted children who have been abducted by a non-custodial parent, a victim of human trafficking, or another unknown circumstance.

The District Administrator and/or principal shall permit, during the school day, the entrance into the school of a child, who lacks records or identification, as a student and shall allow the child to remain in the building office area until law enforcement or social services is notified and takes custody of the child. Such a procedure reduces the risk of removal of a missing or absent child from the area before intervention by law enforcement or social services.

Procedures in this policy are to be implemented in coordination with Policy 5111.01 - Homeless Students.

Revised 12/4/23

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