After two years of solid results, the District will expand its Truancy Reduction Pilot Program to every public and charter high school in wards 7 and 8.

The Department of Human Services released the program’s Year 2 Final Report, showing only 36% of truant students in Year 1 were truant again in Year 2. That represents a 64% reduction in absenteeism.

The program takes a different approach to truancy, connecting students and families with the Department of Human Services for support rather than referring cases to child welfare authorities or the courts.

“Every day a student misses school is a day of opportunity lost,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement Monday. “This expansion means more families will have the support they need to make every day count.”

Bowser said in the news release that the pilot program is “showing that when we meet students and their families where they are, we get results.”

“A 64% reduction in truancy isn’t just a statistic — it represents young people back in the classroom, back with their teachers, coaches and mentors. So, that’s what we’re going to keep building on,” Bowser’s statement continued.

Department of Human Services Director Rachel Pierre told WTOP that they start by educating parents and guardians about truancy education.

“Making sure that they understand the importance of going to school every day and that every day counts. Oftentimes, truancy can be resolved with just education,” Pierre said.

Students are considered truant after 10 unexcused full-day absences in middle school or 15 in high school.

The report identified the five leading reasons students missed school as illness, academic difficulties, behavioral challenges, school reporting issues and social or peer-related problems.

If a parent or guardian agrees to the Department of Human Services referral, caseworkers work with the family to develop a plan to improve the student’s attendance. That can include helping students build practical skills, like getting up on time and staying organized or connecting families facing financial hardships with resources so parents can better support their children.

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