Right Track Truancy Reduction

“Students with the highest truancy rates have the lowest academic achievement rates, and because truants are the youth most likely to drop out of school, they have high drop-out rates as well.” – U.S. Department of Justice

It’s a fact:

• 75% of all truants will eventually drop out of school
• Truancy has been clearly defined as one of the early warning signs that youth are headed for educational failure
• 75% of our nation’s incarcerated criminals were habitual truants

Right Track is a collaborative program developed since 2001 by Project Success in cooperation with local schools, law enforcement, service providers, judges, and the IL Attorney General’s office. This comprehensive program is coordinated by Project Success in cooperation with the Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Education and Decatur Public Schools.

Right Track truancy prevention programming is in place in all 16 Decatur public elementary schools. Students are referred at 5 days of unexcused absences for casework followup by our office and in cooperation with Family Liaisons in all school buildings.

How does it work?

Right Track is designed to affect the student’s truancy through the parent. It seeks to decrease chronic truancy and keep children in school by:

• Focusing on support services for the family
• Focusing on parent accountability and responsibility to keep children in school
• Educating parents about truancy laws in Illinois and the consequences of non-compliance

Right Track provides intervention and service linkage for students with 5 or more unexcused absences. Family Liaisons in each school provide casework follow up for each student including home visits and linkage to social services. Since its inception as a pilot program at one middle school in the spring of 2001, the program has grown each year. During the 2009-2010 school year, the program served all 16 Decatur Public Elementary Schools, including three K-8 magnet schools.

The Right Track benefits?

• The Child receives the education he needs and deserves
• The Family is offered social service assistance to address the issues at the root of the truancy
• The School District realizes increased state funding based on average daily attendance and a decreased likelihood of students dropping out
• The Community benefits from long term reductions in crime and violence

Right Track is working to help keep children in school!

During the 2009-2010 school year 88% of 279 elementary students referred for truancy significantly improved their attendance.

“The Right Track attendance initiative has been a valuable resource for Decatur Public Schools in our effort to instill the importance of regular attendance in school success!” – Elementary Principal, Decatur Public Schools