What is a Truancy Court?

Truancy Reduction Courts improve school attendance and positively affect the youth’s attitude about education through a nurturing approach that ultimately will build a relationship between the family, the school, and the court. The court program is an alternative to punitive measures such as having parents prosecuted in criminal court or stigmatizing the child and further souring their outlook on education and the criminal justice system. A social worker, counselor, or case manager works with families to determine reasons for poor attendance and makes referrals to community-based services when appropriate.