Too many absences may lead to major consequences
Think that too many unexcused absences for students doesn’t have consequences for parents?
Then take a look at the Jackson County Jail — where 14 people were charged with truancy in 2010 and 11 were arrested in 2009 for not sending their children to school, as mandated by state law.
“(The arrests are) pretty rare, but it’s not nearly as rare as it used to be,” said Shannon Adams, superintendent of the Jackson County School System. “It used to be never — because the schools and/or DFCS were responsible for carrying out that task. And parents were not going to listen to a principal or an assistant principal the way that they are to a uniformed officer, in my opinion.”
Since the passage of a 2004 state law, Jackson County’s three school systems have followed a uniform policy on excessive student absences aimed at keeping kids in classrooms.
For the full story, see the July 27 issue of The Jackson Herald online or in print.
“(The arrests are) pretty rare, but it’s not nearly as rare as it used to be,” said Shannon Adams, superintendent of the Jackson County School System. “It used to be never — because the schools and/or DFCS were responsible for carrying out that task. And parents were not going to listen to a principal or an assistant principal the way that they are to a uniformed officer, in my opinion.”
Since the passage of a 2004 state law, Jackson County’s three school systems have followed a uniform policy on excessive student absences aimed at keeping kids in classrooms.
For the full story, see the July 27 issue of The Jackson Herald online or in print.
When kids are out they try to contact the parent by phone, then letters are sent out, then the parents are supposed to appear before an attendance committee at the board office, then they can be fined as much as $100 per absence, then they resort to jail.
It does not get to this point until a student has missed an extreme number of days, say more than 20 or so. If a parent can provide reasonable reasons for the absences or documentation, then these steps are avoided.
MAny times the parents do not respond to calls and letters and can not be bothered to show up to the meetings. They do not care if their kids are at school.
#1 if the law is getting involved, the reasons for the absence has already been checked into.
#2 These people aren't getting life in jail, they are basically being punished for being negligent. Does anyone have a problem with punishing negligent parents?
#3 nobody looks at a students file. You keep the Dr. note for your files...what a LOAD!
#4 Educators are paid employees. Do you know of a business in the world where employers do not keep record of their employees absences? I think some of you have decided that you are going to reply with indignation towards anything in this county related towards our children's education.
- This is a state law, not a school rule. Schools are required by the law to report parents whose children under 16 are not attending school for a valid reason. If you have a problem with it, contact your legislators, not your BOE member or school employee.
- Parents are not reported to law enforcement until it has become clear that there is no valid reason for the child not attending school.
- Any parent who does not want their children to attend school because of something going on that concerns them can home school their children. There are minimal requirements to do that. Our society has decided that all children must be educated in some fashion or another, hence the laws.
- Employee absences are accounted for. The vast majority of educators are hard working, dedicated people. An educator who has excessive absences without good reason face consequences.
This is handled on a case by case basis. They look at the documentation provided by each parent and the parent does have an opportunity to explain the absences.
Again, the rule are set by the state, not the district.