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By law, the caretaker relative’s signature on the TANF application gives permission for school attendance records to be reported to the Department. A copy of the signature page may be sent to the school/school district with form MDHS-EA-310, School Enrollment and Attendance Verification, to request verification of enrollment/attendance in questionable situations, as needed. Send the original form to the school/school district and retain a control copy pending a response. Form MDHS-EA-310 should be used whenever there is a question about the child’s school attendance. The form may be used: ∙ whenever the parent cannot provide documentation of the child’s school attendance; or ∙ to verify the child’s satisfactory return to school after a reported absence. GOOD CAUSE Unsatisfactory attendance is determined by receipt of a computer match from the school, showing an unacceptable number of unexcused absences, showing a discrepancy in data or by other means when the worker has requested information in questionable situations. Upon notification that the child has failed to attend satisfactorily or a discrepancy in data, the family must be allowed 30 days to resolve the problem or show good cause before a sanction may be imposed. MAVERICS will send notice X910 to the caretaker relative, notifying him/her of the situation and providing instructions to be followed in order to avoid sanction. The family will be given the opportunity to explain the reason(s) for the unexcused absences. Specific reasons must be given for each absence, and verification provided, if feasible. The worker may be able to assist the individual in overcoming barriers that have prevented the child from attending school regularly. Good cause reasons include: 1. The minor is the parent of a child less than 12 weeks old. After 12 weeks of age, it is mandatory that the minor parent return to school. The minor parent may be referred to NON-FINANCIAL CRITERIA: SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

MISSISSIPPI REQUIREMENTS

3751 Volume III |Chapter 3Revised 06-01-09 the TANF Work Program as a volunteer in order to receive child care assistance. 2. The child is prohibited by the school district from attending school and an expulsion is pending. This exemption no longer applies once the child has been expelled. If the only child, who is a teenager, is expelled, the TANF case should be closed since there is no longer an eligible child in the home due to the penalty of disqualifying a child over 12. 3. The child failed to attend school for one or more of the following reasons: a. Illness, injury, or incapacity of the child or of his/her own child; b. Court-required appearances or temporary incarceration; c. Medical or dental appointments of the child or of his/her own child; d. Death of a close relative; e. Observance of a religious holiday;