OACAS Attendance Counsellor Course

The two-day, in-person OACAS Attendance Counsellor Course provides the knowledge and skills necessary to perform the duties of an Attendance Counsellor under the Ontario Education Act. This course is highly beneficial for current Attendance Counsellors, Social Workers, Administrators, and Supervisors seeking a deeper understanding of the role.

Experienced facilitators deliver relevant training through lectures and group work, covering:

Legislation related to attendance counselling and the specific roles of school personnel.
Psycho/social issues affecting student attendance.
Case management, court procedures, and effective intervention strategies.
Current best practices impacting habitual absence and student success.

The curriculum includes a detailed review of The Education Act, Compulsory Attendance, Enrolment Register, Attendance Coding, Supervised Alternative Learning Programs, Homeschooling, Home Instruction, Team Roles & Responsibilities, Board Policies, Sample Forms, Case Studies, and the OACAS Attendance Toolkit.

Fee: $500 per person.

Resources: Participants receive the Course Manual, Attendance Toolkit, a printed slide deck, and an electronic copy of the current Ministry of Education Enrolment Instructions.

Virtual Administrator/Clerical Staff Attendance Training

The half-day, virtual Administrator/Clerical Staff Attendance Training is specifically designed for members of the school attendance team, including Principals, Vice Principals, and Clerical Staff responsible for attendance referrals, data entry, and documentation for Ministry Audit.

This session aims to provide participants with a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the entire Attendance Team and best practices for supporting students with attendance issues, while ensuring accurate attendance data is maintained for Ministry count dates and funding purposes.

Experienced facilitators will review:

The Attendance Checklist and Early Intervention strategies.
The Ministry of Education Enrolment Register Instructions.
Referral guidelines for the Attendance Counsellor.
Distinctions between Persistent vs. Prolonged Absences.
Types of Attendance Referrals and Consecutive Absence Procedures.
Temporary Excusals (including sample forms) and Removal Dates.
Documentation requirements for Audit, Sample Forms/Letters, and the OACAS Attendance Toolkit.

This will be an interactive session, with the chat function enabled for immediate discussion and clarification, alongside dedicated time for questions at the end.

Fee: $50 per person. A 20% discount is offered to boards that register more than 20 participants.

Resources: Attendees will receive an electronic copy of the OACAS Attendance Toolkit, the current Enrolment Instructions, and a PDF of the training slides for notetaking.

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Upcoming Attendance Counsellor Courses

Scarborough, ON

December 10-11, 2025

9:00am -4:00pm

Scarborough School Board

140 Borough Dr. 3rd Floor

Room E31 and #32

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Cancellation Policy: If a participant cancels 14 days prior to the start of the course they will receive a full refund. For cancellations between 7-14 days before the course date, a $100 fee will be charged, and the remainder of the course fee will be refunded. Cancellations less than 7 days prior to the course will not be refunded. When you register for a course, you agree to these terms. Please check the box to acknowledge you have read the above information.

By attending this course, participants acknowledge that the OACAS is not liable for any of the information, content, or materials presented during this session. The views, opinions, and recommendations expressed by the speakers or presenters are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of OACAS. Participants are encouraged to independently verify any information presented before making decisions. Please check the box to acknowledge you have read the above information.