In the last several years attendance has become a top priority in the Grayson County school system and with a new computer program in place an old program at the high school and middle school is getting new steam earlier in the school year.

Four Years ago the Grayson County Middle School implemented the Truancy Diversion Program (TDP) and the high school jumped on board last year, to help deter truancy in both schools.

Lori East, the court designated worker for Grayson County, took the lead and brought the TDP to the middle school four years ago and helped to make attendance a priority.

The program was so successful that the school board allowed the same program to be implemented into the high school last year.

“We are extremely pleased with the way the program is working and now with the new software we have identified 31 students at the high school in the first two weeks of school who have had three or more absences,” said East. The students identified will be invited to attend a two-hour workshop with their families from 3 to 5 p.m. September 8.”

The TDP is designed to do exactly what the term means, help identify and assist students at risk of being charged with a truancy offense because of too many unexcused absences.

“In the years since the middle school has implemented the program we have not had to file a complaint with the courts for a single child that is truant,” said East. “The workshop has taken care of the problem and we were able to help the children before we had to take it to the juvenile court.”

The program uses a team approach to help students develop good attendance habits and improve their overall educational experience.

In addition to adding the high school to our program last year,” said East, “we sent letters to the doctors and dentists in the area asking for their help to combat the truancy problem and even the Emergency room doctors are writing times on notes for school.”

The team is made up of judges, court designated workers, school counselors, principals, directors of pupil personnel and family resource officers.

“This seems to be a very effective tool, “said District Judge Shan Embry. “We have had a great of amount success with this program helping families and letting them know about resources that are available and how to access those resources.”

This program, with the assistance of their parents and guardians, helps students develop strong attendance habits, which will help the student be successful in school.

“Left unchecked, truancy during the preteen and teenage years can have significant negative effects on the student, the school and society, “added Embry

Students with the highest truancy rates have the lowest academic achievement and truant youths are the most likely to drop out of school.

The financial impact of truancy can be seen in many ways: 30 percent of American students do not earn a high school diploma and according to the National Truancy Prevention Association the average annual income for a high school student who dropped out in 2005 was $17,299, compared to $26,933 for a high school graduate.

With all these problems identified, finding a solution has become a priority in Grayson County and the TDP is being used to help combat this issue.

After a student is identified as truant a letter is sent to the family asking them to attend this two-hour workshop.

In this workshop the TDP team works closely with the parents and the students to review attendance records, behavior and grades, and develop a plan for success.

District Judge Shan Embry attends meetings to reinforce the work of the truancy diversion team and offers encouragement and recognition to participating students who are making progress.

If a family attends the workshop and truancy continues to be a problem the family is then asked to attend bi-weekly meetings to help keep the child out of the court system.

“Once the family has attended the workshop it seems to have helped to solve problem, “ said Embry. “We are not seeing large groups of these students again.”

If the student continues to miss school after the workshop and there are more unexcused absences and a complaint is filed with the court system. The student can enter into a 10-week program in which they report to East. At the high school, students are directed to Assistant Principal Sonny Prunty.

Students turn in a weekly teachers’ report that includes attendance, work completed and behavior. Grades are as much a part of the program as attendance, East said.

“It’s the policy of the courts that students attend school and make passing grades,” Embry said.

Once the student completes the 10-week session the charges remain in place for six months and then are dismissed.