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Reducing truancy calls for multi-agency approach

Chronic absenteeism and truancy are obstacles to teaching and learning. How can a child learn if not present at school?

Recently there was a new report from Johns Hopkins University that ranked states according to percentage of truant students. It may surprise you to know that Michigan was ranked third in the nation. The national average for school truancy is 13 percent, but in Michigan, it is 18 percent.

There have been multiple efforts by lawmakers and educators to address truancy in Michigan. Just last year, a new law was passed that cuts off welfare benefits to families with children who are chronically absent. The state Health and Human Services Department was given 12 months to figure out how to implement this law.

Here in the Copper Country, the Copper Country Intermediate School District has worked with the local schools, judicial system, law enforcement and social services to create a truancy program. The program developed locally has been shared as a model with all the Upper Peninsula superintendents and at the Michigan School-Justice Partnership state conference in Traverse City.

The CCISD employs a truancy officer who is a special deputy with the Sheriff’s Department. The truancy officer works closely with local school principals to identify students with potential truancy issues. The truancy officer makes regular visits to the local schools to check on student attendance. If there is a student who seems to be having attendance issues, the truancy officer will talk with the student. Sometimes this talk is enough. Many students come to realize that the officer really cares about them, will be there every week to check on them, and will encourage them to keep showing up to school.

Unfortunately, that approach does not work with every student. If the student continues to have excessive absences, the truancy officer will set up parent meetings, which often involve a visit to the student’s home. Many times this is successful in getting the student back on track with attending school. If this is not enough, however, the truancy officer will involve the court systems. This involves meeting with the student, parents, family courts, prosecutors and local school officials to develop a plan to keep the student in school.

We have many dedicated teachers and principals who work hard to catch students before their absences become excessive. They work with students to encourage school attendance, but when they need support, the truancy officer can provide that extra support and involvement. The truancy program in the Copper Country has been very successful. Because of the procedures put in place by the CCISD, in conjunction with the local schools and other local agencies, our truancy rate is less than 1 percent – well below the rate for the state.

George Stockero Jr. is the superintendent for the Copper Country Intermediate School District.

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