Truancy

He has a badge and a gun — and he investigates school truancy

7:44am July 31, 2024

by Dylan Peers McCoy

When students miss lots of school without an excuse, it’s known as truancy — and in Madison County, Ind., it can lead to a visit from truancy investigator Mitch Carroll.

Kamala Harris, then California attorney general, speaks to reporters on July 11, 2012.

Politics & Government

The Story Behind Kamala Harris' Truancy Program

1:01pm October 17, 2020

by Gene Demby

HuffPost reporter Molly Redden explains how a program trying to reduce school absences produced unintended consequences—both for California families and Harris herself.

Police on patrol in three German airports have launched investigations into 20 families who pulled their children out of school to go on vacation.

German Families Playing Hooky Stopped By Police At Airports, May Be Fined

9:50pm May 21, 2018

by Vanessa Romo

Officers have launched investigations into more families caught skipping school ahead of a three-day weekend. Parents could face fines up to $1,177. U.S. parents can be fined for kids' truancy too.

Craig Ferris in his office at Wyoming Indian Elementary School in Ethete, Wyo. Ferris spends most of his driving around and knocking on doors on the vast Wind River Reservation.

Wyoming Schools Get Poor Report Card For Native American Absenteeism

7:28pm December 01, 2015

by Aaron Schrank

One in three Native students are what's considered "chronically absent," in this state. Educators on the Wind River Indian Reservation say that's a major factor holding back student achievement.

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Obstacles lie on the path to getting kids to school

Want To Make A School Better? Get Kids To Show Up

1:48pm November 12, 2015

by Elissa Nadworny

Students who miss 15 or 20 days of school a year may never catch up. The Department of Education is looking for prevention ideas, and one Baltimore school could provide some.

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