Program for Lawrenceburg, South Dearborn, Rising Sun and Sunman-Dearborn Schools.
(LAWRENCEBURG, Ind.) – Dearborn County Circuit Court Judge Aaron Negangard announced the launch of a new initiative to curb student absenteeism in Dearborn and Ohio county schools on Tuesday.
Statewide data reveals approximately 40 percent of students in Indiana missed 10 or more school days last year.
As a response to that data, the Indiana General Assembly passed a measure that requires school districts to establish a truancy prevention policy.
Negangard, along with the Dearborn County Prosecutor's Office and the probation department worked with Lawrenceburg, South Dearborn, Rising Sun and Sunman-Dearborn Schools to establish a uniform attendance policy among those schools.
Until now, each of those schools had their own attendance policy and definitions. When certain kids would have attendance violations at one school, their families would transfer them to another school where they would receive a clean slate.
This new policy means their attendance violations will carry over to the new school.
“If you have this number of unexcused days in Lawrenceburg and you move to South Dearborn, you now carry those days with you. So, we can ensure children are getting the education they need,” Judge Negangard said.
Another aspect of the program will include the court system intervening when a child reaches a certain point of absenteeism.
For kids fifth grade and younger, reaching the absenteeism threshold will be treated similar to a Child In Need of Services (CHINS) case.
The parents will receive a list of free services to assist them in getting their child to school more.
If there continues to be a problem with truancy, the parents could be criminally charged with Neglect of a Dependent.
Officials say criminal charges are the last resort as this program is intended to put pressure on parents, especially those with elementary students, to find a way to get their children to school.
Negangard added that this program is modeled after existing initiatives in Jefferson and Ripley counties.
“All of the parents in Dearborn and Ohio counties need to be aware that this is a fundamental change. For 12 years, you as a parent have a responsibility to get your kid to school. If you cannot meet those requirements, there’s going to be consequences,” Judge Negangard said.
Officials are aware that some kids have to miss school at times due to medical or other reasons. This program has been initiated to address the students who accumulate a large amount of unexcused absences.
“Our goal is to put the pressure on parents to get their kids to school as we have had some students miss upwards of 40 days in the past,” he told The 812.
This program is specifically for Lawrenceburg, South Dearborn, Rising Sun and Sunman-Dearborn Schools.
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