The state of truancy: Our lost kids

Abstract

One in every 100 US students is truant. Among students ages 14-17, the number of truants is one in 10. In one township in Indiana one in every three students is a chronic truant. No longer is the family the only unit of care for children; schools are now the primary units of education and are responsible for at least 6-8 hours of student connectedness and social bonding. Thus, truancy prevention and school engagement is a shared responsibility. This study focused on the school environment as a key factor in school disengagement. The results give some indication of what should be done when advocating for programs and activities in middle schools that would positively impact rates of chronic truancy.