SHREVEPORT, LA - Louisiana is dealing with a serious problem in our schools. The high absenteeism rate is alarming. Truancy numbers and chronic absenteeism are concerns across the state. Leaders are stepping in to address the problem. BESE Vice President Stacey Melerine of Shreveport says in the 2023-24 school year, the truancy rate reached 41-percent, and students were absent an average of 11 days.

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“Since you can’t educate a child that’s not in school, BESE has decided to do what’s best to try to get this in order and get our kids back in the classroom where they can learn and grow as students.”

The State Education Department has put together a task force to address the problem. Some recommendations were presented to BESE last year but she says the panel will help address chronic absenteeism.

“And those are just the kids that are not coming day-to-day, but not quite truant, pursuant to the statute.”

Melerine also says some of the ways data is being collected might also hinder progress across the state.

What Are Possible Solutions?

The task force report proposes several ways to address the problem. One would be to include requiring schools to monitor attendance data, creating a discretionary referral process for truancy cases, and formally defining chronic absenteeism

Melerine says

We are working with the Governor’s office and other stakeholders to come together and have a summit on these issues so we can better understand what’s causing our kids to be absent or truant and how we can address those in partnership with the courts and the Governor’s office.

The Caddo District Attorney has also put in place a very aggressive program to address absenteeism.

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