Feb. 15: City Prosecutor Haubert To Brief Council On New Program ("Parent Accountability & Chronic Truancy") To Increase School Attendance & Discourage Truancy

(Feb. 14, 2011) -- City Prosecutor Doug Haubert will outline a new program to increase school attendance and discourage truancy during the Feb. 15 City Council meeting under an item agendized by 4th dist. Councilman Patrick O'Donnell (a high school teacher in a nearby school district).

In a release, City Prosecutor Haubert indicates he plans to explain his new Parent Accountability and Chronic Truancy (PACT) program, which is based on a new state law under which parents of "chronic truants" (defined as students who miss too many school days without a valid excuse) can be held responsible. In a release, the City Prosecutor says:

"Truancy creates learning and discipline issues for the student, as well as a strain on municipal and education resources by requiring special officers and programs. Absenteeism also often leads to school dropout, and statistics show that school dropouts are more likely to commit crimes and be unemployed than youth who stay in school."

LBPD and LBUSD reps have been invited and are expected to participate in the discussion says the City Prosecutor's release.

In his agendizing item, Councilman O'Donnell says officers and programs within LBUSD deal specifically with truants, and notes that significant truancy rates can affect the grant funding for schools. He says City Prosecutor Haubert has been working closely with involved parties on the issue and "[i]t is appropriate that Mr. Haubert brief the City Council on recent discussions of and issues with truancy."

The Feb. 15 Council meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. (an hour later than usual).

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