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Student Support Services

Student Support Services

Educational Neglect

February 2021

NYSED & OCFS Educational Neglect Joint Guidance Document: Navigating K-12 Educational Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic: New York State Office of Children and Family Services and the NYS Education Department Joint Guidance for Educators and Child Welfare Workers 

  • Replacing 2008 guidance, and applicable during and post-pandemic, NYSED and OCFS’ Division of Child Welfare and Community Services released updated joint guidance on February 10, 2021 related to collaboratively developed and implemented intervention strategies between the education and child welfare external link systems to address students’ attendance challenges leading up to, during, and after reporting allegations of educational neglect to the New York Statewide Central Register for Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR) external link.

  • For the purposes of this guidance, student absenteeism rises to the level of alleged Educational Neglect being reported to and accepted by the SCR external link when there is demonstrated concern that, due to the failure of a parent to ensure their child’s regular school attendance, there is reasonable cause that the student’s excessive absences have adversely affected or have the imminent potential to adversely affect the student’s educational progress.

  • If the SCR external link accepts a report alleging Educational Neglect, OCFS’ Child Protective Services (CPS) external link or Local Department of Social Services (LDSS) external link may investigate.  For some reports, the SCR may make a referral to Family Assessment Response (FAR) external link: New York State’s alternative Child Protective response. FAR provides protection to children by engaging families in an assessment of child safety and of family needs, in finding solutions to family problems and in identifying informal and formal supports to meet their needs and increase their ability to care for their children.

Fall 2020

Webinars: Navigating K-12 Educational Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Working Together to Identify Resources and Supports to Strengthen Families Through this Crisis. (See OCFS Webinar Announcement external link)

  • On October 26 and November 5, 2020, NYSED and OCFS’ Division of Child Welfare and Community Services held joint webinars discussing collaboration and shared goals between education and child welfare professionals, and specific to student attendance challenges, the role of the New York Statewide Central Register for Child Abuse and Maltreatment (SCR) external link regarding reports of alleged educational neglect.