Saeger Middle School in St. Charles, Missouri, uses a positive behavior support program. SCHOOL OR JAIL: Detroit Parents of Truants May Hear From Prosecutor
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How do you get junior to attend school?
Threaten to put the parents in jail, that's how.
At least that's what the Detroit Public Schools is trying this year.
Detroit Public Schools is strengthening its attendance enforcement this year, Michigan Radio reports. Under a policy called 3-6-9, school intervention will begin after a student's third unexcused absence, according to Michigan Radio.
After the third unexcused absence, parents will be notified. If the unexcused absences continue, attendance agents will visit, and may even have referrals to the Michigan Department of Human Services, according to Michigan Radio.
DPS will refer families to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office after students have nine unexcused absences, Michigan Radio reports.
The Detroit Public School district is hoping its new 3-6-9 attendance policy will cut down on student absences. the district will lose $4 million over the next four years because its attendance rate fell below 75 percent for 10 days straight last year.
Gov. Snyder also ordered the Department of Human Services to tie school attendance to parents' cash assistance welfare benefits.
The district says their new approach calls for immediate intervention upon three unexcused absences.
Here's how the policy works:
Three instances of unexcused tardiness, of more than 15 minutes after the start of class, are equivalent to one unexcused absence.
Upon three unexcused absences, a phone call will be made to the student's home and an attendance agent will be notified.
Upon the occurrence of a sixth unexcused absence, the student will be referred to an attendance agent for intervention strategies, which may include home visits by the state Department of Human Services.
Any DPS student having more than nine unexcused absences per school year will face a truancy referral to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office for additional intervention.
The policy also defines what is deemed as "excused," the academic penalties of poor attendance, and attendance information specific to each grade level.
About 15-20 years ago, schools in this community were working with the police to curb truancy. The program, called "Project Success," involved the Boys and Girls Club which housed suspended students under a grant program of the federal Safe and Drug Free Schools.
The Bay City program worked under the concept that the student can't learn if they're not there, and suspension is the worst remedy since parents often are at work and unable to supervise -- so the problem student has even more problems.
Names of truants and suspended students were faxed daily to the police department and, if the young school skipper was found on the streets, he or she was picked up and delivered to the Project Success site at the Boys and Girls Club.
Students wanted by the police for juvenile offenses often showed up on the lists, allowing law enforcement to keep track of their whereabouts.
Teachers and principals were happy to cooperate since the program got troublesome students out of their classrooms and buildings while helping the students maintain their classwork.
A suspended student often just hung out on the streets if parents weren't home, and more trouble often occurred. The suspension to home was not considered ideal for discipline or academics.
Homework was forwarded from the school to the Project Success staff at the Boys and Girls Club. Students assigned there were seated 20 feet apart and not allowed to visit or waste time. The idea was to give the student an incentive to behave, do homework and return to the regular school.
Project Success directors kept statistics on the thousands of hours of class time "saved" by having the student in that program rather than being on the street or staying home watching television.
Alan Atkari, now principal of Essexville-Hampton Garber High, was the first director of Project Success and Jack White was the longtime director.
The Bay City project was based on programs operated in Ireland and was recognized by the news media and received national honors.
Unfortunately, like many admirable programs, grants were no longer available and school funding finally ran short so the program was discontinued a few years ago after nearly 20 years.
The Detroit Public Schools might boost its attendance and academic program, help students achieve and keep parents out of jail, with a Project Success type program.
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