Every year, from high school to junior high to elementary, 800 students on average are truant.
Out of the 800 students, approximately 200 are from Rider.
“Half of them are truant because they fail to turn in documentation,” attendance clerk Ellen Rigsby said.
The definition of truant is one who is absent without permission.
Whether you call it truancy, faking an illness, or skipping school, students do not show up for school in hefty numbers. However, those numbers seem to have gone down this year.
“At this time it has gone down compared to this time last year,” truancy officer Caren Rangle said.
The teen’s character, family, community, and the school are all contributing factors to teen truancy. Even poor academic performance can contribute. Though, frequently missing school may be a sign for a child to get help.
“I didn’t even care. I hated school and I never wanted to be here,” senior Tyler Lee* said. “My home life and family centered my thoughts and I could never focus. I didn’t see the point.”
According to diplomaguide.com High school can often be a difficult time for students balancing extracurricular activities, friends and schoolwork. It’s important to remember that high school is a time for developing skills and earning an education. It is important to stay focused and earn a diploma, which in turn, will create career and life opportunities down the line.
There are several reasons why a high school diploma is important, and students might not realize just how much having (or not having) a high school diploma can affect their future lives.
Students tend to not think about the consequences of truancy. Depending on the severity of the truancy, the consequences can get harsh. Kids who are truant are placed under a court order to attend school every day on time.
Along with the court order, the student has 40 hours of community service due in 60 days and could possibly be required to attend a counseling program.
If a student continues to be truant, and is 16 years old or younger, a parent is ordered to sign the student in and out of school for 10 days. If the problem continues, a parent can be ordered to attend school with their student for 10 days. If it still continues, a parent can be sentenced to jail.
If a student is 17 or 18 years old and continues to miss school after being placed under court order, the student will face jail time. Every single day they miss of school will result in three days in jail.