State's Attorney to crack down on chronic truancy
The Saline County State's Attorney and district school superintendents have initiated a new truancy program to curb an increasing chronic truancy problem.
"Chronic student truancy not only deprives students of an education but also results in the schools losing funding necessary for their operation," State's Attorney Mike Henshaw said, in a prepared release.
Students between ages 6 and 17 years are required to attend school every day, unless they are excused. Under the guidelines of the new program, when a student reaches three and six days of unexcused absences, the parents or guardians are notified of the child's truancy by the school. After nine days of unexcused absences, the parent or guardian will receive a notification letter to appear before the Saline County Truancy Review Board.
At the meeting before the review board parents and students will be given the opportunity to discuss the issues causing the student's truancy. The review board includes a neutral hearing officer, the state's attorney, members of the student's school administration, truancy officers and community agencies that can provide social services for the family. All members of the board will assist the student and family in attempting to resolve issues leading to the truancy.
If truancy persists after the review board meeting the parent or guardian will be charged with criminal charges. It is a Class C Misdemeanor for a parent or caregiver to contribute to the truancy of a minor. Violation carries a maximum fine of $500 and 30 days in the Saline County Detention Center.
Henshaw says the goal is not to punish parents or guardians for the chronic truancy of their children, but to encourage communication with the child's school about the issues leading to truancy and family participation in the services offered to the family.
"The district Superintendents and their respective schools are here to help your child succeed academically and are committed to doing so," Henshaw said, in the release.