By PETE BANDA
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com
With the state of Texas’ new truancy law taking effect Sept. 1, students will no longer be facing criminal sanctions — penalties that could include jail time — for skipping school. There is however, likely to be more pressure on schools and parents, who could face charges if their kids fail to show up for class.
For years, Texas was one of two states that made truancy a criminal violation. Public school students who had at least 10 unexcused absences in a six-month period found their truancy cases heard by justices of the peace or municipal judges. Schools also had the option of sending students with three or more unexcused absences within a four-week period to the adult courts.
“Now with this new law, each school district will have to start up a Truancy Prevention Program that will basically be a three step program to help prevent school absences,” said San Benito CISD Parental Involvement Coordinator Luis Gonzales. “This new law is designed to throw it back at the school to make sure we do everything we can to get the child back in class before proceeding with legal action.”
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2 comments
I know a simple and easy solution to truancy. Go after the parents’ food stamps. That will get the student to school.
Go after the parents’ food stamps. That will get their child to school for sure.