State Superintendent Tom Horne and Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan | www.azed.gov; www.mcso.org
State Superintendent Tom Horne and Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan | www.azed.gov; www.mcso.org
In response to a significant rise in chronic absenteeism in Arizona, state schools chief Tom Horne and Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan are calling for increased efforts from law enforcement, the courts, parents, and schools to ensure that students attend school regularly. The absenteeism rate has surged from approximately nine percent during the 2019-20 school year to 30 percent in the 2022-23 school year, according to data from the Helios Foundation presented to the State Board of Education.
Tom Horne expressed gratitude towards Sheriff Sheridan for his commitment to assisting parents and school districts with truancy issues. "We have to create a motivation for parents to be sure their children go to school," said Horne. He emphasized the need for legal action when laws are violated and urged city attorneys to prioritize truancy cases.
Horne described the current situation as a "real catastrophe" and an emergency for Arizona. He advocated for stricter measures, such as counting nine unexcused absences as failing a course and five tardies as an absence. He also called on law enforcement officers to issue citations for truancy and encouraged vigorous prosecution by the courts.
Sheriff Sheridan pledged support in raising awareness about truancy and reinforcing the importance of school attendance. Under Arizona law, parents who knowingly allow their children to miss school commit a Class 3 misdemeanor. "It isn’t safe for young kids to be out of school and wandering the streets," said Sheridan. He highlighted that if children refuse to attend school, they will be addressed at the juvenile court level.
John Croteau, Superintendent of Dysart Unified School District, emphasized the importance of consistent attendance for academic achievement and personal growth. "Our absenteeism policy is designed to support students and families in overcoming barriers to regular attendance," he said.
Arizona law mandates that all children between ages 6 and 16 must attend an academic institution where they receive instruction in basic subjects like reading, grammar, math, social studies, and science. A child is considered truant with an unexcused absence from any class period or if not present during normal school hours without statutory allowance.
Information from this article can be found here.
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