First, the Initiative monitors school attendance of habitually truant students. A habitually truant student is defined as a student who had 17 or more unexcused absences from the previous year. If this student is observed to have a similar pattern of absences in the current school year, then the parent is warned that they will be prosecuted if the student’s attendance does not improve. If attendance does not improve, then the parent is charged with a Compulsory School Attendance Law Violation for the absences from the previous year. However, if it is determined that the parent is not to blame, then the student will be charged with being an Undisciplined Juvenile. Law enforcement may be contacted by the schools to assist in locating a truant child.

Second, if law enforcement locates or encounters a truant child during school hours, this child may be detained while the officers investigate whether the child should be charged as an Undisciplined Juvenile or whether the parent should be charged with a Compulsory School Attendance Law violation. Truant children will be transported to the Law Enforcement Agency and officers will contact their parents or guardians and school personnel to come to the police department to retrieve the child. When the child’s parent or guardian arrives, officers will discuss the Initiative with them and consult with school personnel to determine whether to charge the juvenile with being an Undisciplined Juvenile or the parent with a Compulsory School Attendance Law violation.

Third, the District Attorney’s Office will prosecute School Attendance Law Violations and Undisciplined Petitions in Juvenile Court. Our Juvenile Prosecutor will handle these cases before the same family court judge who hears juvenile cases.

Fourth, a Truancy Council has been established to monitor the program, assist in its implementation and explore any correlations between crime rates and truant children. The Council may also recommend policy changes to the School Board.

For additional information about the Truancy Initiative, contact Ms. Beverly Pennington of the Stanly County Schools at Beverly_pennington@scs.k12.nc.us or the District Attorney’s Office.