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TAXPAYERS, LOWER YOUR TAXES AND SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS!
 
TAX CREDIT: HOW DOES IT WORK?

A Tax Credit, which is the dollar-for dollar reduction of your tax liability, is better than a tax deduction, which only reduces your taxable income before taxes are computed.

Instead of sending all your state taxes to the State of Arizona, you can make a contribution to a public school. A.R.S. §43-1089.01 allows taxpayers a TAX CREDIT  up to $200.00 for “Single” or “Head of Household” tax filers and up to $400.00 for “Married Couple Filing a Joint Return” when contributing to EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES in public schools. This gives you the opportunity to help your local school. The tax credit is available to all taxpayers, regardless of whether they have children in school. It would be advisable to consult your tax advisor regarding your specific tax status.

What is an EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITY?

Extracurricular activity means any optional, non-credit educational or competitive school sponsored activity that supplements the education program of the school. Activities such as sports, visual and performing arts, field trips, outdoor education or character education programs can be funded with tax credit money. Extracurricular activities do not include any events that are recreational, amusement or tourist activities.

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?
You may select which school and which program you would like to support. The amount of the tax credit you take does not have to be for the total allowance. You can make a difference in our schools with just $50.00, $75.00, or $100.00. In addition, the credit may be split between one or more schools and/or one or more programs. 

HOW CAN I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TAX CREDIT? UPDATE

Complete the attached form and return to the school of your choice by April 15, 2020 or mail to the District Office prior to April 15, 2020 in order to take it off your State of Arizona taxes at the time you file for 2019. Arizona Tax Credit Donation Form
Create an online payment by going to this link  

It is easy! The District will provide you with a receipt verifying that you have contributed to an eligible extracurricular activity.

For more information contact Wendy Taylor at the District Office, 623-535-6000.

When you provide a check as payment, you authorize the Litchfield Elementary School District (LESD) either to use information from your check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your account or to process the payment as a check transaction

Truancy Prevention

The education of our students is extremely important in the Litchfield School District. School attendance is not only a good habit that can help prepare students for future careers, but it is required by state law.

State of Arizona Truancy Laws

The Litchfield Elementary School District Truancy Prevention Unit follows guidelines that mirror statutes set forth in Arizona state law. 

Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) 15-802 states, every child between the ages of six and sixteen years shall attend a school and shall be provided instruction in at least the subjects of reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies and science. The person who has custody of the child shall choose a public, private, charter or home school as defined in this section to provide instruction. 

A.R.S. 15-803 states, a child who is habitually truant or who has excessive absences may be adjudicated an incorrigible child as defined in section 8-201. Absences may be considered excessive when the number of absent days exceeds ten percent of the number of required attendance days prescribed in section 15-802, subsection B, paragraph 1.

RESOURCES:

Family Involvement Center: 602-288-0155

Families in Need of Services (FINS): FINS Help Line: 602-506-5913

C.U.T.S. COURT UNIFIED Truancy SUPPRESSION Program 

According to Arizona State Law (15-802.E, 15-803), every parent/legal guardian must ensure that children between the ages of six (6) and sixteen (16) years of age attend school during school hours, unless a child is unable to attend due to illness or another legitimate reason.

To encourage and improve school attendance, Litchfield Elementary School District, in partnership with Maricopa County Juvenile Probation, has implemented a truancy program. This truancy program is called C.U.T.S. (Court Unified Truancy Suppression). C.U.T.S. requires the school to track student attendance closely.

ARIZONA TRUANCY LAWS

  • Children between the ages of six (6) and sixteen (16) are required by AZ law to attend school.

  • Children are allowed to miss eighteen (18) days of school. That's a combination of excused and unexcused absences.   

  • Nineteen (19) absences or more is breaking the law.

  • Five (5) or more unexcused absences is breaking the law

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

  • Unexcused absences means parents unaware child is not in school (AKA: Ditching)
  • An unexcused absence will count as a truant day as defined by law.
  • Five (5) or more unexcused absences is breaking the law and could be referred to the court system.

EXCUSED ABSENCES

  • Accompanied by a parent or designee

  • Suspensions/Expulsions

  • Religious/Spiritual Holidays

  • Documented Chronic Illnesses

  • Court Dates

If a student has five (5) or more unexcused absences or over eighteen (18) excessive absences (excused and/OR unexcused), the student can be cited to the C.U.T.S. Program through the Juvenile Court.  

If a student is cited under this law, a hearing would be held at the Juvenile Court Center. A parent or legal guardian must be present with the student at the time of the hearing.

Consequences at the hearing may include the following:  

  • required attendance of the parent and the child at an education class (to be held on Saturdays)

  • work hours assigned to the child

  • mandatory counseling

  • a $50.00 Diversion fee assessed to the parent/guardian

Failure to take the necessary steps to ensure that your child attends school on a regular basis may result in a citation. If convicted, this violation is a Class 3 misdemeanor punishable by fine and/or jail time. Your support and commitment to ensuring that your child comes to school when s/he is well enough to do so is essential.

This program is one way the Litchfield Elementary School District is working with parents and the community to ensure a quality education for all students.