Truancy Reduction Program

The Truancy Reduction Project is cooperative effort involving children, parents, school districts, and the courts in an attempt to reduce truancy in the public schools.

The legislature endorsed the importance of student’s attendance by identifying student attendance as a key factor in school accreditation.  Courts, school personnel, and families all understand that if a child does not attend school, the student will not be exposed to the opportunities for learning.  As a result, School District 27J has increased their focus on the daily attendance rates of their students and the judicial system has stepped forward to provide the backbone needed to support these efforts.

The compulsory school attendance law of Colorado requires that “every child who has attained the age of seven years and is under the age of seventeen years... shall attend school.  The law further says that it is the parents’ responsibility to “ensure” attendance of their school age child.

There are several steps involving interventions to resolve issues pertaining to juvenile truancy in the schools.  First we must identify the students and their families and the reasons for the truancy problem.  The school then attempts to resolve these problems before resorting to formal court proceedings.

Each individual school building attempts to intervene either through telephone calls, home visits letters, school based contracts and other outreach efforts. If truancy continues, then the school district provides a stronger level of intervention with reviews of previous actions taken, and possible district –level resources referrals or contracts.

Once these efforts at the school and district level have failed and the pattern of truancy continues, the student and family are referred to the district truant officer.  The truant officer determines if either a diversion court program is appropriate or a court petition.

The goal as a school district and a community is to reach all students and families and educate them on the importance of attending school. Regular attendance will ensure that all students are exposed to appropriate learning opportunities.

Main Contact:

Jacqueline Arostigui - Laurienti

Truancy Case Manager
jlaurienti@sd27j.org

Lori Darnel

Truancy Reduction Program Manager

Truancyreduction@comcast.net.

Related links:

National Center for School Engagement

schoolengagement.org