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Educators try new approach to reduce truancy

Monday, September 22, 2008 11:36 PM PDT

By Carrie Pederson
cpederson@tdn.com

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Missing homework, getting sick and being "a little slow in the morning" led to a truancy problem for Beth Ayres during freshman year at Castle Rock High School.

"The work would build up," she said recently. "I didn't want to go to school and deal with it."

Thanks in part to the Truancy Project, though, her attendance has improved this sophomore year, which she's spending at Kelso High School.

"I've only missed one day of school because I was sick," said Ayres, who has been meeting weekly with a truancy specialist, who also checks up on her attendance. "I like to be early."

In 2007-08, the project's second year, 315 students participated in the countywide program.

Attendance rates did not dramatically improve last year: About 74 percent of the students showed improvement, up from 73 percent in 2006-07. But specialists for Educational Service District 112, which orchestrates the program, say the program helped more students with tougher problems.

The second year of the project there were "no holds barred ... schools (sent) pretty much all of the serious truancy issues" to the Truancy Project, according to the ESD 112 report.

The project's truancy specialists have had "a great deal of success," said Sally Moorehead, truancy officer in the Longview School District.

Reducing truancy may be as simple as changing a student's class schedule, but it is often a symptom of a deeper mental health problems, said

Gail Spolar, director of workforce development and truancy programs at the ESD 112.

Last school year, 95 percent of youth involved in the Truancy Project were referred to mental health services, up from 46 percent the first year before, reflecting a greater awareness of problems and an expansion of available services.

In the past, a student might have to go to juvenile detention, but laws and strategies have changed, educators say.

"As a community we don't have the option of looking at detention at the consequence for not attending school. It makes us become more creative in what we're doing to intervene with kids," said Mark Hottowe, Kelso School District's executive director of student services and human resources.

As she spends less time with truants in court, Moorehead said she is trying to model the on-one-one work done in the Truancy Project.

"Any time you can do the intervention and see if you can get to the heart of the problem, it helps a lot," she said.

Parents are deserve credit when truant students improve, Moorehead said.

"I think it's very important to have the parents on board," she said. "When the truancy project has worked, that what's happened."

In its third year, the program is funded with a $92,000 grant now in its final year. It's also getting $25,000 in federal funding through a Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant. ESD 112 is seeking grants to continue the Truancy Project after this school year.

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rest of the story wrote on Sep 23, 2008 7:57 AM:

" All these programs created by people with "Doctor" somewhere in their titles trying to come up with complicated solutions that usually cost lots of taxpayer dollars that are marginally successful at best. You want a couple of solutions that will cost virtually nothing (compared to the millions spent on other attempts)? Now this is pretty simple, no big multi-syllable words here: The first is to raise the age to obtain a license to 18, and then one has to have a high school diploma or GED to get that license. Second, keep the driving age at 16, however you have to maintain a 3.0 or better to get and keep that license. Also, change the labor laws so that a kid can only get a job if he/she has a 3.0 or better while they are in school. Kids are not held accountable these days. Simple rules like these will motivate kids to stay in school, get good grades, and graduate. Riding their bikes or walking in our cold, wet winters will change their attitudes more than any big dollar program! We would solve several problems in our school system today, and maybe then we can get rid of the stupid WASL "

Blogger Jogger wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:11 AM:

" Having worked as a Truancy Officer, I can tell you that this problem is not an easy one to tackle. And, no matter what you throw at it, sometimes it doesn't help. It does seem that Longview and Kelso are beginning to take steps that can have a strong impact on the truancy/dropout problems that plague this area. In addition to the Truancy Project, LooWit High School offers a high school for many bright and talented young people that are simply square pegs in a round peg system. I hope the communities will get behind these innovative programs and do what they can to see them survive. Much of the beauty in our world is created by "square pegs!" Also, the old system of dragging them into juvenile court had very little overall affect on the truancy, but a whole lot of impact when it came to making the kids believe they were criminals. I never thought turning truants into full blown criminals was a good strategy. "

Proud Mama wrote on Sep 23, 2008 9:51 AM:

" I'm glad someone is finally realizing that their are numerous reasons and solutions to the truancy problem. Not every child is a spoiled brat just skipping school for the fun of it. Each child needs to be looked at individually to find out what is causing the symptom (truancy) and then work on a solution to meet and address those individual needs. AND no, it shouldn't cost an arm and a leg to create a program. I agree there is alot of wasteful spending. Why wouldn't these issues be able to be addressed by a prinicpal, vice principal, counselor, advisor, or school psychologist, or parent volunteer. Really, all we need is someone to take the time to listen and help guide the student to the appropriate resource, whether it be mental health, schedule change, ect. It would be interesting to see how many of these children are truant due to drug addiction in the family home. "

Kelso Resident wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:10 AM:

" When I was in High school back in 2000 (11th grade Kelso High) I had a math teacher who would tell us what our assignment was and what pages the lesson could be found on, than she'd leave the class for up to 40 minutes while she went to the "Office" I don't remember her name because shortly after this I dropped out (Got my GED Shortly after) I'm not sure if she's still working there, but my whole view of the school system is if the teacher is not that intent on teaching the class why should we be willing to learn? I feel it's a two way street they have to show interest in their class if the class in willing to learn. I'm sure if she went up to me and said "Hey you having problems, here let me help" I'm sure I'd would have been more willing to stay in school. "

cynic954 wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:10 AM:

" rest of story; What about the kids in special ed.? Would you apply the same standards to them too? "

rest of the story wrote on Sep 23, 2008 10:45 AM:

" to cynic954: there are always exceptions. special ed, a kid that lives where there is no bus service, etc. As I have two kids in school, I just don't see them being held accountable. They are allowed to skate thru. My oldest is a Freshman this year. We have battled low grades and not completing homework for years. This year though, he wanted a cell phone like all of his friends, and wants to learn to drive in a month when he turns 15. I told him no way on a phone and driving unless he is doing his work and is getting a 3.0 or better. Guess what? He is doing his homework and his grades are A's and B's, and he has stopped his sneaking around. Will it last? I don't know, but it has motivated him so far, more than any 504C program or any other school intervention to date. "

abokaa wrote on Sep 23, 2008 8:35 PM:

" To Rest of the story. Your plan to eliminate opportunity for anyone less than above average (C being average, or 2.0) should have a great impact on poverty, crime and drugs in our community. It's good to know your son is smart. Was he adopted? "

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