Truancy is a serious problem; however, truant students do not face an irrevocably bleak future. Every day, promising strategies that foster school engagement are being developed, implemented, and enhanced nationwide.

Strategies that demonstrate Best Practices inspire the creation of new strategies and infuse existing programs with inventive ideas. Typically, these best practices—

• are based on sound theory supported by positive or promising research results.
  
  
• incorporate a system of data collection and analysis to evaluate program outcome and performance.
  
  
• are part of a collaborative effort that draws on public, private, and volunteer resources.
  
  
• operate within a comprehensive framework, which periodically assesses risk factors in the community and implements programs and strategies to address them.

Federal and State Initiatives have resulted in many promising truancy prevention and intervention strategies. By providing funding opportunities, training and technical assistance, and subject matter expertise, these initiatives propel truancy reduction activities at the national and local levels.