This article reports on a study of the primary outcomes from a randomized trial of a collaborative, police–school partnership that sought to reduce truancy and increase students’ willingness to attend school.
Truancy is a major social issue that is linked to a range of poor outcomes across the life course, including poor educational outcomes, drug and alcohol abuse, and antisocial behavior. Interventions intended to reduce truancy have included school-based police officers, programs that reward good attendance, and community-based interventions. Using school attendance and students’ self-report survey data, the current study found that the police–school partnership intervention showed promise for reducing truancy and improving students’ willingness to attend school. The study concludes that police–school partnerships that foster the willingness of students to attend school should be examined in future evaluation research and be considered in the development of truancy prevention programs. (publisher abstract modified)