Camden School District Rolls Out New Approach To Tackle Truancy Problem
CAMDEN, NJ (CBS) -- The Camden School District has spent years trying to tackle its truancy problem. This school year they have rolled out a more personal approach to deal with the reasons why kids miss school. But how does the new program work and is it having an impact?
Steven Sloane-El has spent years walking the streets of Camden alerting parents that their kid hasn't been in class at Camden High School. The first absence is a call from the school. He gets involved when the number hits three.
"Three days, I make a phone call to see what is going on," Sloane-El said. "Five days, I do a home visit."
On Wednesday he made nearly a half-dozen stops at homes where kids missed nine or more days this year. At ten days, the court gets involved.
"We're asking a lot of proactive questions,"said Maggie Sorby, who runs the attendance offices.
Last year, 38-percent of the district's 10,000 students missed 18 or more days. Now they're sending attendance officers to find out why, and to connect kids to services.
And Sloane-El is on a mission.
"To see Camden High's attendance rate at 100 percent," he said.
A deeper look reveals in many cases bullying, custody issues, pregnancy and other issues play a role in children missing school.