NEW SCHOOL TRUANCY PROVISIONS

In June, 2000, Governor Taft signed into law, Am. Sub. SB 181, which addresses school truancy.  It defines habitual truant as a child of compulsory school age, who is absent without legitimate excuse for five or more consecutive school days, seven or more school days in one school month or 12 or more school days in a school year.  It defines a chronic truant as any child of compulsory school age, who is absent without legitimate excuse for seven or more consecutive school days, ten or more school days in one school month, or 15 or more school days in a school year.

It expands the definition of a delinquent child to also include any child who is an habitual truant and who has previously been adjudicated an unruly child for being an habitual truant and any child who is a chronic truant.  It expands the definition of an unruly child to also include an habitual truant.

The legislation seems to open the door for the commitment of a chronic truant to the temporary custody of a facility (excluding the Ohio Department of Youth Services) operated for the care of delinquent children under certain conditions.  It also provides for criminal charges against the parent, guardian, etc. (contributing to the nonsupport of dependents or contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child)  for repeat habitual or chronic truancy charges against the child.

The Columbus Board of Education was told that to implement this legislation would cost the School Board $1.5 million per year.  None of the funds will be provided by the state. The spokesman for the Columbus schools stated to implement the provisions of the law that requires districts to provide truancy intervention strategies, such as counseling, parental-involvement programs, mediation and ultimately the pursuit of legal action, the school district would need to add 22 employees to a staff of 9 social workers to effectively implement the mandate.

All of you concerned about the implementation of this legislation, should contact your school board to see what is going to be done in your community.  If the school districts are able to implement the new programming within the schools that is mandated, positive help for children with school truancy problems could become available. If school districts are not able to develop new programming within the school system, many more school truants will find themselves in juvenile court with the likelihood that they will be labeled as truants and not receive the help they need. 

If you talk with your school board about the implementation of this legislation, let us know and we will share your responses on our website with other concerned advocates.

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