Provided 6-17-16
1516 RTKL 0181

PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT
Office of School Safety

Directive #8

SUBJECT: TRUANCY
I.

POLICY
A. Whenever the Truancy Pick-Up Initiative is in operation, the following will be
implemented. Truancy Pickup Initiative begins at 9:00A.M. and continues through
12:00 noon daily - Monday through Friday. Current Truancy Center locations will
be available from School Police Dispatch.
B. Truancy Pickup Initiative is coordinated with, and includes the following personnel:
1.
Philadelphia School Police Department
2.
Philadelphia Police Department
3.
SEPTA Police Department
4.
Temple University Police Department
5.
Other Law Enforcement Agencies, i.e., Philadelphia Housing Police
C. School Police and Supervisors will stop, investigate and take into custody juveniles
who are subject to compulsory school attendance and are observed on or about the
highway during the time school is in session.
1.
The definition of “Pennsylvania Compulsory School Attendance Law”
(24 P.S. 13-1326, 13-1327, 13-1332, 13-1333).
2.
“Compulsory school age” is defined in Section 13-1326 of the
Pennsylvania Public School Code as “ the period of a child’s life from
the time the child’s parents elect to have the child enter school, which
shall be not later than the age of eight (8) years, until the age of
seventeen (17) and/or graduation.”
D. Students are not to be handcuffed, unless they present a danger to themselves or the
officers.
E.

Every effort is to be made to ensure that at least one of the transporting
SPOs are the same gender as the student being transported.

1-8

 II.

PROCEDURE
A. Officers will immediately notify School Police Radio with the following
information:
1.
2.
3.

The location and reason for stopping the juveniles; request PPD
notification if the juveniles are engaged in criminal behavior.
The number of juveniles stopped by Police.
Request a “backup” if necessary.

B.

Students stopped near their school:
School Police will escort students, located near their assigned school, into
that school and return them to the school staff.

C.

Students stopped at a distance away from their assigned school will be
escorted to the nearest age appropriate school and released to the school staff.
*NOTE: Exception to the “nearest school rule” is when a Truancy
Sweep is conducted. All truants are then transported to the designated
Truancy Center.

D.

School Police Officers will prepare a SP-16 for all youths picked up for
truancy. Included on the SP-16 will be:
1. Names of Juveniles (first and last)
2. House Number, Street, City, State Zip Code
3. School and Address
4. Age, Race, Sex, Date of Birth
5. Parent/Guardian, Telephone Number,
Mother and Father’s First Name
6. Violation: Truancy
7. Location of Pickup
8. Philadelphia Code-Truancy Code is 3129
9. District of Occurrence
10. Date and Time
11. Initiating Officer’s Signature

E.

Where you relocate and give custody of the student:
1. Record the Name and Title of the person given custody of the
student.
2. Prepare a SP-16 and make notation on Patrol Log PS-8.

2-8

 F.

Search and Seizure:
1.
When transporting a student or students in a school district
vehicle they must sit in the rear seat of a caged vehicle with a
seat belt engaged.
Only School Police Officers of the same gender may conduct a
“frisk” of the student before placing them in the vehicle.
2.
All contraband items, illegal substances and/or weapons are to be
confiscated. Philadelphia Police will be notified and arrests will
be made when warranted. The School Police Officer will prepare
a SP-16 and ensure that the Incident Unit is notified. The
confiscated contraband items will be turned over to the
Philadelphia Police.

G.

School Police Officers when transporting any student(s) to a school will proceed
to that location at once. They will not stop at any other location.
1.
School Police Officers should not engage in foot pursuits or
vehicle pursuits of truant juveniles.
2.
When possible identify the juveniles by using their school ID
card, a school roster or a driver’s license.
3.
Any equipment that the truant has in his/her
possession must accompany the youth to the school or truancy
center where they are transported to for the day, e.g., skates,
basketball etc.

H.

It is the responsibility of the school principal or designee to notify
parents/guardians, and the Truancy Center Administrator in charge of the center.

3-25-04
Revised 6-24-08
JUNE 2015

BY ORDER OF THE CHIEF SAFETY EXECUTIVE
OFFICE of SCHOOL SAFETY

3-8