NCJ Number
149426
Date Published
1993
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the causes and results of truancy and proposes strategies for preventing it.
Abstract
Truancy has serious repercussions for a community. It is linked to high daytime burglary rates, auto theft rates, and vandalism. High absentee rates also reduce State funding for public schools. Moreover, truancy has significant consequences for the student. Compared to regular attenders, chronic truants receive lower grades and show slower learning gains. Adults who were truants as children often must cope with illiteracy, social alienation, poverty, and political powerlessness. Truancy can be traced to four causes: an unsupportive school environment, lack of community support, chaotic family life, and personal deficits. Responses to truancy generally consist of school- based programs, family counseling, or juvenile court programs. School programs typically use one of four approaches: policies that provide academic incentives for good attendance, policies that provide administrative consequences for nonattendance, policies that give academic consequences for nonattendance, and programs that provide supportive services. One recommendation proposed by the author is that the school engage the family in efforts to reduce truancy. Also, marginal students can benefit from efforts by peers and school staff to involve them in all aspects of school life, including cocurricular activities. The use of supportive services, such as cross-age tutoring, is generally more effective than using rewards to reduce truancy. 5 references