Member Login  not a member? sign-up now!  Customize to your
family and get personalized newsletters.  Are Fines and Jail
Time Appropriate Consequences for Truancy?  September 18, 2012
My first grade daughter's excused absences totaled 27, the
January letter reported. The letter warned that any
more absences and we'd be referred to a truancy officer.  Across
the country in cities like Dallas, Atlanta, and Lynchburg
parents like me are facing worse than warning letters -- they're
facing hundreds of dollars in fines and jail time if the fines
aren't paid.  It's a "truancy crackdown" meant to improve test
scores, school funding, and graduation rates.   For us, it felt
like harassment.  My daughter had severe anxiety which created
legitimate sicknesses in her body, with puke and everything.
But, more than that, she missed school to see a therapist once a
week. Since anxiety affected her learning and her health,
therapy was our biggest priority - so we let her miss school. It
was the only appointment time availabl