What Is Truancy?
Truancy refers to students' unexcused absences from school.
Concern about truancy typically focuses on these unexcused absences.
However, any school absence—excused or unexcused—as well
as missed classes and tardy arrivals can affect students negatively.
There is no universal definition of truancy. It is defined differently
by each state's compulsory school attendance laws and local
and school district policies. Like running away from home, alcohol
use, and curfew violations, truancy is a status offense—an
act that would not be criminal if committed by an adult.
Truancy is a problem in school districts nationwide. Although no
national statistics on truancy exist, some metropolitan areas report
thousands of absent youth on any given school day. Truancy affects
students of all ages, from all types of communities and socioeconomic
backgrounds.
What Causes Truancy?
Students miss school for different reasons, depending on the age
and circumstances of each student. A national
survey on youth behavior indicates that in 2003, about
5 percent of students in grades 9 through 12 skipped school because
they felt unsafe at school or on their way to or from school. Other
students may miss school because of family health issues and financial
demands, substance abuse, or mental health problems. Research shows
that factors contributing to truancy stem from three areas: school,
family and community, and student characteristics. For example—
School Factors
- Inconsistent and ineffective school attendance policies.
- Poor record keeping.
- Not notifying parents/guardians of absences.
- Unsafe school environment.
- Poor school climate.
- Inadequate identification of special education needs.
Family and Community Factors
- Negative peer influences, such as other truant youth.
- Financial, social, medical, or other problems that pressure students
to stay home to help the family.
- Child abuse and neglect.
- Family disorganization
- Teen pregnancy or parenthood.
- Lack of family support for educational and other goals.
- Violence in or near the home or school.
Student Characteristics
- A lack of personal and educational ambition.
- Poor academic performance.
- Lack of self-esteem.
- Unmet mental health needs.
- Alcohol and drug use and abuse.
What Are the Impacts of Truancy?
For decades, educators, researchers, and social reformers have recognized
the link between truancy and delinquency.
Truant students are at risk for many negative outcomes, including—
- Educational failure.
- Social isolation.
- Substance abuse.
- Low self-esteem.
- Unwanted pregnancy.
- Unemployment.
- Violence.
- Adult criminality and incarceration.
In addition to placing students at risk, truancy has harmful social
and financial consequences. Communities with high rates of truancy
are likely to have corresponding rates of daytime criminal activity
and vandalism. High school dropouts claim more in government-funded
social services than high school graduates.
How Can We Prevent Truancy?
Preventing truancy requires the support of schools, families, and
communities. Truancy prevention efforts are typically school-based,
court-based, or community-based. The best efforts incorporate all
three components and provide a continuum of prevention and intervention
strategies.
Truancy reduction programs may involve one or more of the following
components:
- Parent/guardian and family involvement.
- A continuum of support, including incentives and consequences
for good, improved, and poor attendance.
- Collaboration among schools, courts, law enforcement agencies,
social services providers, businesses, and faith-based and youth-serving
agencies.
- Tangible goals to measure program and student performance.
- Effective record keeping to track improvements in student attendance
and truancy rates.
- Establishment of a community standard in which school attendance
is valued and expected.
The average school dropout costs society more than $800,000 during
the course of a lifetime. Cost-benefit studies indicate that truancy
reduction programs are inexpensive relative to the cost of students
who drop out of school. A cost-benefit
report on truancy reduction programs is available on
the Publications page of
this site.
A Closer Look
The National Center for
School Engagement (NCSE) offers a range of truancy-related information. Some of the
information presented in this overview was taken from the following
NCSE fact sheets:
Recognizing that truancy is a complex problem and that focusing
on attendance is not enough, NCSE emphasizes the "three A's" of
school success:
Attendance: Promoting attendance involves the design and
implementation of evidence-based strategies to reduce excused and
unexcused absences.
Attachment: Promoting attachment involves establishing meaningful
connections with youth and their families through caring relationships,
support, and mutually defined expectations.
Achievement: Promoting achievement involves ensuring that
students have the skills and resources needed to graduate from high
school.
To learn more about the three A's, visit NCSE's Web
site at www.truancyprevention.org.
Videos about the three A’s are also available: attendance (transcript), attachment (transcript), and achievement (transcript).
Legislation
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