Abolish Chronic Truancy Program

Truancy is the number one predictor among boys (and the number two predictor among girls) of future criminal activity. A 1996 report produced by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education described truancy as a “gateway to crime.” In response to truancy and related crime in Fulton County, the Juvenile Division of the District Attorney’s Office established a truancy program called “Abolish Chronic Truancy”—or ACT—in the fall of 2000. The program targets elementary school children ages 6-9 who are not yet able to get to school without parental assistance. When dealing with children in this age group, it is often parental apathy or a conflict that prevents the child from being able to get to school. The goal of this program is to become involved with children and their parents at the earliest stage possible in order to impress upon parents the importance of regular attendance and to instill good attendance habits in the children. These measures will reduce delinquency and, ultimately, juvenile crime.

The program involves teachers, parents, the District Attorney’s Office, and social service agencies working together to devise strategies for preventing truancy. After identifying excessively absent students, the program pinpoints any needs that parents may have that impact their ability to bring the child to school and then provides assistance in these areas. Through meetings with the child’s school and the District Attorney’s Office,

parents are educated about the potential for future criminal behavior if truancy becomes chronic and are asked to emphasize the importance of school to their children. If no assistance is needed and a parent simply refuses to comply by sending the child to school, the District Attorney’s Office then notifies the parent of potential prosecution.

The Office implemented the ACT pilot project at Atlanta’s Cook Elementary School where officials identified 33 students who would benefit from the program due to excessive absences. Of the students participating, 76% improved attendance after the initial meeting with the assistant district attorney and school officials—with 20% of participants only absent one day. In fact, one student, who had previously been truant 41 days, was only absent one day after the parent attended this initial meeting.

Based on these dramatic results, Schools Superintendent Beverly Hall has partnered with the District Attorney’s Office to now implement the project in six Atlanta elementary schools.