Truancy

A student is considered truant when he/she is not enrolled or attending school on a daily basis, as required by law.

What Is Habitual Truancy?

A student will be considered “habitually truant” under state law if the student is absent without a legitimate excuse for five or more consecutive school days, for seven or more school days in one month or 12 or more school days in one school year.

What Is Chronic Truancy?

A student will be considered “chronically truant” under state law if the student is absent without a legitimate excuse for seven or more consecutive school days, for 10 or more school days in one month or for 15 or more school days in one school year.

What If A Student Is Chronically Or Habitually Truant?

If a student is habitually or chronically truant, a complaint shall be filed with the Judge of the Juvenile Court. The building administrator may also take any of the following intervention actions:

• Assign the student to a truancy intervention program
• Provide counseling to the student
• Request or require the student’s parent to attend a parental involvement program
• Request or require a parent to attend a truancy prevention mediation program
• Take appropriate legal action
• Assign the student to the alternative school program

The Board of Education may begin the process to revoke driving privileges of any student under the age of 18 who has 10 consecutive days or a total of 15 days of unexcused absence from school during any semester or 90-day period. Parents will be notified before this process begins and have the right to review all records. (Board Policy #5200 )