Truancy and DropoutTruancy and Dropout

Implications for School Implications for School Psychologists today Psychologists today

Misty Sommers-TackettMisty Sommers-Tackett

Truancy OverviewTruancy Overview

What is Truancy?What is Truancy? Why are we concerned?Why are we concerned? Truancy Types Truancy Types Attendance Patterns in OhioAttendance Patterns in Ohio Why is truancy difficult to resolve?Why is truancy difficult to resolve? What is our duty?What is our duty? Prevention, and InterventionPrevention, and Intervention DiscussionDiscussion

What is Truancy?What is Truancy?

Also called:Also called:skippingskippingcuttingcuttinghookyhookyAWOLAWOL…and on and on……and on and on…

Looked at differently in different Looked at differently in different cultures and areascultures and areas

Rarer in areas where education is Rarer in areas where education is not as readily availablenot as readily available

What is Truancy?What is Truancy?

Definition(s):Definition(s): Webster -Webster -

The act or condition of being The act or condition of being absent without permissionabsent without permission

This is a textual definition. Not This is a textual definition. Not what the law uses as a basis for what the law uses as a basis for court referral. court referral.

What is Truancy?What is Truancy?

Definition(s):Definition(s): Section 2151.01: a HABITUAL truant is “any Section 2151.01: a HABITUAL truant is “any

child of compulsory school age who is absent child of compulsory school age who is absent without legitimate excuse for absence from the without legitimate excuse for absence from the public school the child is supposed to attend for public school the child is supposed to attend for five or more consecutive school days, seven or five or more consecutive school days, seven or more school days in one school month, or more school days in one school month, or twelve or more school days in a school year.”twelve or more school days in a school year.”

Section 2152.02: a CHRONIC truant is “any Section 2152.02: a CHRONIC truant is “any child of compulsory school age who is absent child of compulsory school age who is absent without legitimate excuse for absence from the without legitimate excuse for absence from the public school the child is supposed to attend for public school the child is supposed to attend for sevenseven or more consecutive school days, or more consecutive school days, tenten or or more school days in one school month, or more school days in one school month, or fifteenfifteen or more school days in a school year.” or more school days in a school year.”

What is Dropout?What is Dropout?

When a student completely When a student completely withdraws from school.withdraws from school.

When a student turns 18 and When a student turns 18 and has been truant, and can be has been truant, and can be dismissed by the school.dismissed by the school.

Leaving school without Leaving school without substitution schooling (home-substitution schooling (home-schooling, private schools, etc.)schooling, private schools, etc.)

Why are we concerned?Why are we concerned?

44 percent of juvenile 44 percent of juvenile crime occurs between 8:30 crime occurs between 8:30 am and 1:30 pmam and 1:30 pm

Gangs, daytime crime, Gangs, daytime crime, violence, drugs and/or violence, drugs and/or alcoholalcohol

It is our duty to create It is our duty to create responsible members of responsible members of our societyour society

There is a higher correlation between dropping out There is a higher correlation between dropping out and ending up in prison, than there is between and ending up in prison, than there is between smoking and getting lung cancer!smoking and getting lung cancer!

Why are we concerned?Why are we concerned?

Abduction Abduction 11 Assault Assault 88 Assault on a Police Officer 1Assault on a Police Officer 1 Carrying a Concealed Weapon Carrying a Concealed Weapon

11 Certain Acts Prohibited Certain Acts Prohibited 22 Criminal Mischief Criminal Mischief 33 Criminal Trespass 12Criminal Trespass 12 Curfew Curfew 47 47 Disorderly Conduct 12Disorderly Conduct 12 Domestic Violence Domestic Violence 44 Flee & Elude Flee & Elude 11 Give False Information to a Give False Information to a

Police Officer Police Officer 11 Housed for Liquor Control 1Housed for Liquor Control 1 Inducing Panic Inducing Panic 11 Littering Littering 33

Menacing Menacing 22 Obstruct Official Business 10Obstruct Official Business 10 Possess Criminal Tools Possess Criminal Tools 22 Possess Drug Paraph. Possess Drug Paraph. 77 Possess Marijuana Possess Marijuana 99 Prohibitions Prohibitions 4444 Receiving Stolen Property 4Receiving Stolen Property 4 Resisting Arrest Resisting Arrest 66 Runaway Runaway 1010 Sexual Imposition Sexual Imposition 11 Theft Theft 44 Trafficking in Marijuana Trafficking in Marijuana 11 Unruly Unruly 77 Warrant- JDC Warrant- JDC 22 Warrant-Akron PD Warrant-Akron PD 11 Warrant-PCSO Warrant-PCSO 22

http://www.kentohio.org/dep/2003-report.pdf

JUVENILE ARRESTS IN KENT - 2003JUVENILE ARRESTS IN KENT - 2003

Truancy TypesTruancy Types

So what does a truant look like? Possibly…So what does a truant look like? Possibly… Weak readersWeak readers Anxious about schoolworkAnxious about schoolwork Bullied (victims)Bullied (victims) Teasing and prejudiceTeasing and prejudice Dislike a teacherDislike a teacher Dislike a studentDislike a student See class/subject as irrelevantSee class/subject as irrelevant Have unreasonable/reasonable fearsHave unreasonable/reasonable fears Physical problemsPhysical problems Bored with classBored with class Peer pressurePeer pressure DepressedDepressed ‘‘at the end of their rope’at the end of their rope’

Truancy TypesTruancy Types

So what DOES a truant look like?So what DOES a truant look like?

Some say there are 3 types:Some say there are 3 types: TraditionalTraditional PsychologicalPsychological InstitutionalInstitutionalSome say there are 2 types:Some say there are 2 types: Those who miss classThose who miss class Those who miss full daysThose who miss full days

Truancy TypesTruancy Types

TraditionalTraditional IntrovertedIntroverted ShyShy Generally pleasantGenerally pleasant Unsupportive homeUnsupportive home Comprise up to Comprise up to

25% of all truants25% of all truants

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Truants

Traditional

Psychological

Institutional

Truancy TypesTruancy Types

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Truants

Traditional

Psychological

Institutional

PsychologicalPsychological AvoidanceAvoidance Psychological basisPsychological basis Fear of something or Fear of something or Illness or Illness or

psychosomatic psychosomatic complaintcomplaint

Make up between 2-Make up between 2-10% of all truants10% of all truants

Truancy TypesTruancy Types

InstitutionalInstitutional ExtrovertsExtroverts Disregard for Disregard for

authority and authority and consequencesconsequences

Many friendsMany friends Unsupportive homeUnsupportive home Large family? (used Large family? (used

to family squabbles)to family squabbles) Usually between 65 Usually between 65

– 80% of all truants– 80% of all truants

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

Truants

Traditional

Psychological

Institutional

Truancy TypesTruancy Types

In the past…In the past… Traditional truants made up greater % of Traditional truants made up greater % of

all truantsall truants The present trend…The present trend…

Institutional truants are increasingly Institutional truants are increasingly more prevalentmore prevalent

Specific subject truancy more popularSpecific subject truancy more popular Group truancy outnumbers individual Group truancy outnumbers individual

casescases Age of onset is younger (earlier onset of Age of onset is younger (earlier onset of

puberty)puberty)

Truancy TypesTruancy Types

Truancy is considered by the law as Truancy is considered by the law as missing a full day of school, a missing a full day of school, a number of times within a period.number of times within a period.

We cannot forget the truants who We cannot forget the truants who miss specific classes, even if they miss specific classes, even if they show up part of the day.show up part of the day.

Law does not treat them the same, Law does not treat them the same, but we should not consider one less but we should not consider one less important than the other.important than the other.

Attendance Patterns in OhioAttendance Patterns in Ohio

82.00%

84.00%

86.00%

88.00%

90.00%

92.00%

94.00%

96.00%

98.00%

1998 1999 2001 2002

Asian/PI

Black(Non-Hisp)

Hispanic

Am.Indian

Multiracial

White(Non-Hisp)

School Attendance rates in Ohio, by race, 1998-2002http://dev01.ode.state.oh.us/Default.asp

*** Attendance records do not show excused/unexcused ***

Why is truancy difficult to resolve?Why is truancy difficult to resolve?

Too many variables – the one main Too many variables – the one main common factor is non-attendancecommon factor is non-attendance

Every truant and school is uniqueEvery truant and school is unique Unreliable data and statistics from schools Unreliable data and statistics from schools

and teachersand teachers Truancy occurs outside of school grounds, Truancy occurs outside of school grounds,

sometimes requiring home visitssometimes requiring home visits Every district has different truancy policies, Every district has different truancy policies,

and not every truant is referred to the court and not every truant is referred to the court Truants are rarely referred to an Truants are rarely referred to an

administrator of the court until they are in administrator of the court until they are in middle or high school (after it has become middle or high school (after it has become chronic/habitual)chronic/habitual)

Why is truancy difficult to resolve?Why is truancy difficult to resolve?

Thought to ponder…Thought to ponder…Are we treating the school more like Are we treating the school more like a prison or a program?a prison or a program?Are we acting more like a warden or Are we acting more like a warden or a salesman?a salesman?

When companies loose customers, When companies loose customers, the ones they work hardest at the ones they work hardest at pleasing are the ones that didn’t pleasing are the ones that didn’t come back. Shouldn’t we treat our come back. Shouldn’t we treat our students as consumers of students as consumers of education?education?

What is our duty? What is our duty? (or what SHOULD be our duty?)(or what SHOULD be our duty?)

A School Psychologist has a duty to not A School Psychologist has a duty to not only intervene, but to work on prevention only intervene, but to work on prevention as well. as well. “…Laws give school personnel responsibility and authority to “…Laws give school personnel responsibility and authority to intervene when children are absent” – (Guare and Cooper, 2003)intervene when children are absent” – (Guare and Cooper, 2003)

Developing and encouraging programs that Developing and encouraging programs that encourage bonding between the school encourage bonding between the school and the studentand the student

Working with truants to find what they feel Working with truants to find what they feel would make the school a more welcome would make the school a more welcome place for them.place for them.

Working harder at preventing truancy from Working harder at preventing truancy from an Elementary school level, before it an Elementary school level, before it becomes habitual/chronic.becomes habitual/chronic.

Prevention and InterventionPrevention and Intervention

Implications for prevention:Implications for prevention: Difficult until student does not show upDifficult until student does not show up Monitoring those who miss class before they Monitoring those who miss class before they

miss full daysmiss full days Taking action during Elementary yearsTaking action during Elementary years Referring ‘potential’ risk students for mediationReferring ‘potential’ risk students for mediation

Implications for Intervention:Implications for Intervention: Requires monitoring of attendance for ‘flagged’ Requires monitoring of attendance for ‘flagged’

childrenchildren Mediation with parentsMediation with parents Attendance contractsAttendance contracts Court intervention – bring the court into the Court intervention – bring the court into the

school?school?

Prevention and InterventionPrevention and Intervention

More good suggestions:More good suggestions: Listen to the student. Keep an open mind and Listen to the student. Keep an open mind and

try to understand their perspective.try to understand their perspective. Treat truancy as a universal behavior. Children Treat truancy as a universal behavior. Children

of all backgrounds cut class. Look at the of all backgrounds cut class. Look at the relationship between student, school, society, relationship between student, school, society, etc.etc.

Differentiate the different types of truants. Differentiate the different types of truants. Understand difference-“endangered vs. fearful”Understand difference-“endangered vs. fearful”

Start by concentrating on reducing class specific Start by concentrating on reducing class specific truancy first. truancy first.

Make rules and policies clearer.Make rules and policies clearer. Seek teacher support. Encourage engaging Seek teacher support. Encourage engaging

classroom activities and class monitoring.classroom activities and class monitoring.

Taken from Guare and Cooper (2003).Guare and Cooper (2003).

References for more infoReferences for more info The U.S. Department of Education- The U.S. Department of Education- http://http://www.ed.govwww.ed.gov//.. Memphis Shelby Crime Commision; Best Practice Memphis Shelby Crime Commision; Best Practice

Number Eight: Reducing Crime and Supporting Number Eight: Reducing Crime and Supporting Education through a Comprehensive Truancy Education through a Comprehensive Truancy Reduction Strategy, at Reduction Strategy, at http://www.memphiscrime.org/research/bestpractices/bhttp://www.memphiscrime.org/research/bestpractices/bestpractices-8.htmlestpractices-8.html

The Ohio Revised Code- The Ohio Revised Code- http://http://onlinedocs.andersonpublishing.comonlinedocs.andersonpublishing.com//

Garry, Eileen M., (1996, October). Garry, Eileen M., (1996, October). Juvenile Justice Juvenile Justice BulletinBulletin, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile , U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Guare, Rita E. and Cooper, Bruce S. (2003). Guare, Rita E. and Cooper, Bruce S. (2003). Truancy Truancy Revisted: Students as School ConsumersRevisted: Students as School Consumers, Lanham, , Lanham, Maryland:The Scarecrow Press, Inc.Maryland:The Scarecrow Press, Inc.

Reed, Ken (1999). Reed, Ken (1999). Truancy and SchoolsTruancy and Schools, New , New York:Routledge.York:Routledge.

More ResourcesMore Resources

Senate Bill 181Senate Bill 181 Townhall II Truancy Mediation Townhall II Truancy Mediation

Newsletter Newsletter (by Kenzi Axthelm – Mediation (by Kenzi Axthelm – Mediation Coordinator)Coordinator)

Be familiar with your court Be familiar with your court appointed authorities and appointed authorities and police department. We are on police department. We are on the same team!the same team!