What is Truancy?

• An unexcused absence from school
• States enact school attendance laws which determine:
• the age at which a child is required to begin attending school
• the age at which a child may legally drop out of school
• the number of unexcused absences which make a student legally truant
• In many states, youth missing more than 10 days of school are required to repeat the entire school year.
• Truancy is a major problem nationwide, yet states do little to prevent it and little to re-engage truant youth.

Source: (Strategies for youth, 2012)

Preventing Truancy

Preventing truancy requires a multifaceted approach that considers the school, the parents, and the youth.

Rather than just punishing truancy with suspension, schools are finding it more effective to develop programs to work with these students. The most effective programs include:

• mentoring
• law enforcement involvement
• communication training
• community involvement

The role of the school starts with clearly communicating attendance policies and upholding them. Schools also need to keep proper records, communicate problems to parents, and work to improve poor conditions in the school. Staff should work to ensure that students are matched with the right teachers and are getting special attention when necessary.

Outside of the school, preventing truancy begins at home, with open communication and problem solving. This will help to determine the cause of the absenteeism. 

If you are the parent of a truant child, talk to school administrators to find ways to solve the problem. In some cases, transferring classrooms or even a new school may help. Rather than just punishing, finding actionable solutions is often effective in reducing truancy.

Source: (Gabbey Amber, 2013)

Bibliography: 

• Strategies for you (2012) Recovered by: https://strategiesforyouth.org/for-police/how-to/how-to-truancy/
• Gabbey, A. (November 21, 2013) Recovered by: https://www.healthline.com/symptom/truancy