CFISD truancy cases on decline after prevention measures begin
Several new state laws will make it easier for school districts, including Cy-Fair ISD, to curb truancy starting with the upcoming 2015-16 school year. Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law House Bill 2398 in late June, which raised the compulsory attendance law to 19 years of age and makes truancy a civil, not criminal, offense.


“Now if you are 18 years of age, you can’t drop out of school like you could in the past,” said Dave Schrandt, director of student services for CFISD.


Truancy in Texas


CFISD truancy cases on decline after prevention measures beginBefore the new legislation was approved, Texas truancy law was considered among the harshest in the nation, according to Texas Appleseed, an advocacy group that has studied, reported and advocated for reform on many facets of the school-to-prison pipeline.


Before the new legislation was approved, Texas law stated that a school could refer students to court for truancy if they accumulated unexcused absences for three days within a four-week period. A school previously had to file a failure to attend school class C misdemeanor charge when a student accumulates unexcused absences for 10 days within a six-month period.


Previously, truancy cases could be brought against students ages 12 to 17 and carry fines of up to $500. Cases for students younger than age 12 would be brought against the parent.


The Texas Appleseed report found in 2013 Texas filed more than twice the number of truancy cases than all other states combined. The report concluded that criminal truancy cases in Texas disproportionately affected African-American, Hispanic and special education students. The report also stated that 4 out of 5 students sent to court for truancy were classified as economically disadvantaged.


“Simply put, these laws hurt students, particularly the African-American, Latino and special education students,” said state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, who co-authored Senate Bill 106, which also sought to decriminalize truancy. “Education is the most important key to unlocking opportunity. But the Texas truancy system is pushing students who often face economic and social hardships out of school and further away from those opportunities.”


One reason behind the high number of truancy cases is because many school districts attempt no meaningful interventions with truant students before referring them to court, said Mary Schmid Mergler, director of Texas Appleseed’s School-to-Prison Pipeline Project.


“In the vast majority of cases the school, working with the student and family, could address the truancy problem if it made meaningful attempts to do so,” she said. “Instead schools often pass the responsibility to courts that are not designed, equipped or trained to provide meaningful assistance to students and their families.”


Truancy in CFISD


CFISD began its own in-house program to curb truancy two years ago and has since been successful in reducing the number of truancy cases in the district. Truancy cases are down 21 percent from the 2013-14 school year and down 34 percent from the 2012-13 school year, Schrandt said.


Although the new legislation requires the implementation of new truancy prevention measures, CFISD’s in-house program began similar tactics two years ago.


“You have to be in school to be successful, and being successful academically means being in school and class and showing up on time,” Schrandt said. “Going to court is the last resort, and we don’t want to do that, but the law says we have to. That’s why these truancy prevention measures are so important.”


Many times the issue of unexcused absences arises when students or parents are unaware a note from a parent or guardian is required to be turned in to the school following an absence.


“A lot of times people don’t know what the law is,” Schrandt said. “In Cy-Fair we post things in the student handbook in regards to what the law is. We also have the Home Access Center where parents can check to see if a note was turned in.”


Additionally, there are six attendance officers in the district who conduct student visits at campuses to talk to students and inform them about truancy laws. Students could also begin an attendance contract, which is signed by the student, parent and school staff.


The district also uses its School Messenger system to send out phone calls to parents if a student has an upcoming truancy court date.


Oftentimes, Schrandt said, it can be unclear where the problem of missing school originates until a court case begins.


Issues could include a parent not getting a child to school on time, or a student not attending class even though they arrive on time and have proper transportation to campus.