truancy

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Running head: STUDENT TRUANCY

Student truancy: Why should I go to school?
Kevin Floress
Indiana University

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Abstract
Various school personnel, parents, community members, and juvenile justice officials among others are consistently concerned with the issue of truancy in schools. Truancy highly correlates to problem behaviors such as academic failure, dropping out of school, and criminal behavior (Giacomazzi, Mueller, & Stoddard, 2006). Perhaps the most pertinent question then is: What is causing students to be truant from school and what can be done to improve school attendance? This report will begin by examining the multifaceted implications of student truancy. After a review of the far-reaching effects of truancy, research-based interventions aimed at alleviating truancies will be explored.

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Student truancy: Why should I go to school?
Introduction to Truancy
Truancy defined
Without explanation it is not entirely clear what is meant when a student is said to be “truant.” For purposes of clarification, it is important to distinguish the term truant from the term absent. According to Teasley (2004), absenteeism can be defined as any event when a student does not attend school. Absenteeism can be affected by any number of factors such as lack of community support, dysfunctional family life, severe weather, personal illness, family illness, physical limitations or any other reason why a student may not attend school on a given day (Teasley). Truancy on the other hand, can be defined as unexcused and unlawful absence from school; typically without parental knowledge or consent. According to Lee and Miltenberger (1996), students that are truant typically spend the time they are out of school away from their home and tend to conceal the absences from his or her parents. Truancy then, is a form of absenteeism that is unexcused and without guardian consent.
Implications of truancy
According to Fantuzzo,

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