Superintendents agree to adopt Burlington truancy policy
Burlington Free Press
Published: Wednesday, December 13, 2006
By Jill Fahy
Free Press Staff Writer
School superintendents in northwestern Vermont agreed Tuesday to support a truancy policy created by the Burlington School District.
The Champlain Valley Superintendents Association, representing districts in Addison, Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties, met to discuss implementation of the policy the Burlington district has been using since 2001. In the coming months, administrators in the 16 districts will begin adopting the policy for their own use.
Burlington's policy was devised in the late 1990s after a study found that school dropout was a community, not a school, problem and that truancy was an underlying contributor to dropout. As part of Burlington's truancy process, school officials closely monitor a student's absence, first by sending a notification letter home after five days, then 10 days of absence. After 15 days, the school seeks a meeting with the student and his parents. After 20 days, the case is referred to the State's Attorney Office for prosecution under the Child in Need of Supervision statute.
Absences of Burlington students have decreased by 25 percent since Burlington adopted its policy, said Jeanne Collins, Burlington school superintendent.
"Our truancy policy has had a significant effect on Burlington's truancy and dropout rate over the last five years," Collins said.
Collins said truancy is caused by many reasons. Among them are family-related problems, homelessness or school phobia.
"What the policy has done for us is track the absences in a much more systematic fashion. It insists on early intervention, accountability, support for the families and ultimately court support," Collins said.
Contact Jill Fahy at 660-1898 or jfahy@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com
