Partnership aims to reduce chronic absenteeism

One Wayne County school district, police department and prosecutor’s office have announced they’re strengthening connections in hopes of reducing chronic student absenteeism before legal action is needed.

In an Aug. 25 statement, Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office, Richmond Community Schools and Richmond Police Department announced they’d share attendance data, coordinate notifications and support services for families, and involve police and prosecutors only when habitual truancy persists despite school intervention.

As part of the partnership, RPD school resource officers will take a more active role in communicating with the prosecutor’s office on attendance cases.

“This partnership lets us respond consistently and get families help before things escalate,” said Kyle Weatherly, RPD’s chief.

The statement cited consistent research that chronically absent students — typically missing 10% or more of the school year — are more likely to struggle with reading and math achievement, experience lower graduation rates, and face greater risks of social, emotional and long-term economic challenges.

Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of academic success because it provides students with consistent access to instruction, relationships and the support they need to learn and thrive, the statement said.

RCS Superintendent Curtis Wright said educators’ priority is keeping kids in the classroom and connecting families with support early. He said legal action is always a last resort.

Parents and guardians with attendance concerns are encouraged to directly contact their child’s school. RCS family liaisons can help families in connecting with community resources.

Under Indiana’s attendance law, schools must notify parents or guardians of unexcused absences before legal intervention occurs. If habitual truancy continues, parents/guardians can face a Class B misdemeanor or, in more serious cases, a Level 6 felony.

Ashley Green, who became Wayne County’s prosecutor Sept. 2, said her office would take necessary steps to hold families accountable when appropriate efforts to resolve chronic absenteeism haven’t been successful.