The success of our schools performing its primary functions of teaching, educating, and socializing the young is predicted on regular school attendance. Truancy is rated among the major problems facing schools today (Garry, 1996). Schools in some larger cities have reported absenteeism rates as high as 50 percent per day (Allen-Meares, 2004). The issue of truancy compromises schools' primary function and places our young people at risk. According to the Bilchik, truant students have the potential to lead a lifetime of unemployment, crime, and incarceration (Garry, 1996).

Truancy is often a symptom of a deeper problem. Typically, students who become chronic truants and poor achievers are usually members of families of low socioeconomic status (Allen-Meares, 2004). Students who are of a low ... Showed first 120 words of 2353 Size (words) ...

... Continuing with another 115 out of 2353 Size (words) ...helping families with other issues that are affecting the lives of the children (Grooters & Faidley, 2002). Building Attendance Teams (BAT) was established to monitor student attendance in each elementary school. BAT communicated and worked with the school social worker on a regular basis to ensure that communication was established with parents of children who were developing excessive absences. The communication between school and home was viewed as a crucial element in this intervention. Communication allowed information of the child's needs of home or at school to be shared.

REACH initiates communication with parents of children who missed between 7-10days. It is standard DMPS policy to send letters to inform parents of their child's attendance ...Essay still continues 100 more words...