well,happy2balive,why dont you check out how many kids are in the detention center for non serious crimes!ive been down that path,have you? it cost me thousands of dollars for my child being truant!and youre right about and underlying problem,their was one. did they care that she was in counceling,nope. did they care that she is bi-polar, nope did they care that she was depressed ,nope.their plan of action was lock her up and throw her away so we dont have to deal with that little brat anymore.did i go to the school? yes i did.every meeting,done everything they suggested.did it work,nope.i find most of the kids that are truant just do because they feel like it and the parents are tired of fighting with them to go.but, yes thier are the troubled ones who do need help, i will agree with that,my daughter is 18 now,maybe people like you can help some of these kids,because you actually sound like you care.so maybe my statement was a little harsh,and im sorry if i offended you, but when your 12 year old child sits in juvey well over 20 times,for having mental issues i guess you strike out at the wrong people.good luck in helping some of these kids,because this county isnt going to offer much.

I was a volunteer for Junior Achievement and worked with a first grade class in one of the schools. One little girl in that class frequently didn't arrive at school till around 11 a.m. and that's because her mom who was not working had finally got up to get her kids off to school. Same little girl was also showing up for class during the winter time wearing summer clothes and a spring/fall jacket... no winter coat, boots or mittens. Obviously her mom was too busy to stop and get a winter coat for her through Coats for Kids. It was amazing how many of the kids in that class didn't even have the school supplies they needed to have. Those who did have them had to share with all those who did not.

This child was not showing up late for school on her own account.. but she was learning that it was okay to just show up whenever. Think she's going to carry that over to Jr. High or Sr. High if she even makes it that far? If her parents aren't responsible for this.. then who is? She had siblings and really doubt that she and her siblings are the only kids who are of have been in this stituation.

melstew47...juvey? Really? That's not effective and it's REALLY expensive! Juvenile Detention is for serious offenders and locking truants with serious offenders doesn't provide the treatment, programming or intervention that is neceesary to put their feet on the right path. DL's are suspended for truants and you cannot participate in extra or co-curricular activities if you're a truant; thus, these aren't considered penalties. As the article indicated...truancy is usually a sign of a larger problem. We as adults must do our best to befriend and mentor so they feel safe exposing their problems, not penalize them for a life they didn't choose. The best way to turn around a troubled youth is to teach them that although they aren't responsible for where they come from, they ARE responsible for where they're going in life and we will help them start on that path!

I find it amazing that 95% of parents do not have to deal with this and therefore would not have to follow their kids around all day. Tell me what they are doing right and that may show what you parents that have kids with attendance problems are doing wrong. Stop allowing the school district to be a parent for your kids. Step up and do it yourselves.
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Pat, believe it or not, not all teens are having sex.

It is true that if they are late 10 minutes or more they get counted as truant. If that happens 5 times they send a letter home to the parent stating a time and date the parents must come to the school to talk about it. I have dealt with it personally with my son being late to advisory numerous times. I don't think punishing the parent with fines is the way to go. What does that teach the child? I make sure my child gets to school, I talk to him about the importance of getting to class on time, and he has to deal with the consequences of his actions at home when he has problems at school. What more can a parent do? I can't follow him around all day.

i knew this crap was going to start about saying the parents arent responsible. the majority of the parents are responsible.your fining the wrong people,if you want get these kids attention,then you need to suspend their drivers license,suspend all curricular activities they have at the high school, for high school students who dont have the above,put them straight in juvey,no second chances no nothing,get them right from the get go.for elementary and middle school levels,suspend all extra curricular activities,make them do community services,and if that doesnt work throw them in the detention center.for parents who are not responsible and dont want to help with the truancy problem,suspend their drivers license also,and if that dont work,nothing wakes up a person like jail,quit messing with kids and parents who dont want to help with the problem

They do need to change some school rules though cause if your ten minutes late to class that counts as a truancy thats ridiculous they should just give detention or some other type of punishment.Also they need to stop open campus once your a junior or senior in good standing then open campus.Also once its past the ten day mark your child than goes into truancy if they are really sick it shouldn't go against them!

I sure am getting tired of paying taxes for kids who don't want to go to school.

It's kind of like teens having sex, you can tell them not to but they will anyway. Parents can send their kids out the door in the morning, even drop them off at the school doors. Once they are out of the sight of parents they do as they please.

Don't skip this one, folks.