What research tells us about effective truancy prevention and intervention programs
A WHAT WORKS, WISCONSIN FACT SHEET
BY SIOBHAN M. COONEY & GAY EASTMAN
University of Wisconsin–Madison/Extension January 2008
Effective truancy prevention and intervention programs follow two basic principles: (1) Families, schools, and communities work together to set rules for school attendance and to enforce the rules quickly and consistently. (2) Schools are places where students want to be.
Program Design and Content
The most effective prevention programs are comprehensive – Because the causes of truancy are multi‐faceted and diverse, the most effective programs target risk and protective factors at the individual, family, school, neighborhood, and community levels. Effective programs never use sanctions that increase school absence – Out‐of‐school suspensions or juvenile detention placements only decrease school engagement and make it harder for students to succeed when they return.
Program Relevance
Interventions for chronic truants are tailored to the individual – Because students are truant for a wide variety of reasons, effective interventions will be different for each student. Depending on their situation, students may need more academic tutoring, help strengthening a poor relationship with a teacher, an alternative school setting, or an independent study more relevant to future goals, among other things. Communication with parents occurs in their preferred language – A school’s communication with parents should be a two‐way endeavor that includes clear explanations of school rules and the consequences of truancy. To this end, effective programs find ways to communicate with parents in a way that is understandable to each of them.
Program Delivery
Sanctions are applied fairly and immediately, and are clearly tied to the truant behavior – ...