Truancy trends in Marquette County schools

Truancy or chronic absenteeism is becoming a major problem for Michigan schools.

In 2014, more than 30 percent of students in Marquette and Alger county were chronically absent.

"Every district deals with a handful of students who sometimes, we struggle and try to convince them that school is important and it's a good place for them to be," said Dan Skewis, Superintendent of Negaunee Public Schools.

Skewis says chronic absenteeism is typically seen more in middle and high school, but can impact elementary students.

"If a student misses more than 12 days in a semester we contact the parents and say that we need to start correcting some things," Skewis said.

When it gets past 12 days, the diversion program at Marquette probate court is contacted.

"We have the court system start working with the family to make sure their child is coming into school," Skewis said.

Bryan DeAugustine, the superintendent at N.I.C.E schools, added that truancy is due to a combination of factors.

"Perhaps there are some health issues among the adults in the household, [sometimes] students just simply defying their parents or skipping," explained DeAugustine. "Other times it's just parent neglect. Adults sometimes need a reminder that it is really important to get their kids to school."

Both Negaunee and NICE schools say they truancy is becoming less of a problem throughout their districts, but they are teaming up with other counties to lower chronic absenteeism through PSAs.

"We think that they made a good impact. I know that other schools who were were struggling with attendance a little bit saw an uptick in kids coming to school," said DeAugustine.

Negaunee and NICE districts have truancy prevention programs in place that include reward days honoring students that have great attendance, with field trips.

"Having kids attend school all day every time is really important to us," said DeAusgustine.

The schools do have also have opportunities to make up the time on weekends or school vacations.

"Together we can make sure students attend today, and achieve tomorrow," said DeAugustine.