Harris County District Attorney Patricia Lykos announced last week that an upgraded Stay in School Program will partner with 12 school districts, including Tomball ISD, to fight truancy in the new school year, after it dealt with 33,400 area truants and their parents during the 2008-09 academic year.

The prevention program relies initially on warning letters from Lykos herself to parents and students. More unexcused absences trigger early intervention to attack underlying problems. Convictions may be avoided through closely supervised diversion plans that can include counseling, related assistance and community service work.

Those who fail to honor their commitments face full prosecution. Students and parents may be subject to fines of up to $500 and other penalties, including criminal prosecution for contempt. 

Michael Moore, chief of the DA’s Truancy Section, said most students and families get the message clearly with the DA’s warning letter. Four of every five avoid truancy charges.

“We’ve had proven success with this program,” Moore said. “By keeping these kids attending their classes, we can cut the drop-out rate, reduce more serious juvenile crime, and get these youth back on the path to becoming productive citizens.”

High-tech allies are part of the effort. Advanced computer programs will closely track each case this year. The DA’s unit has also been evaluating the potential use of GPS truancy monitors and advanced counseling regimens for chronic truants. 

Participating with the Truancy Section are 12 area school districts, four alternative schools and - for the first time - a charter school, the Richard Milburn Academy in north Houston. Other partners include seven Justices of the Peace, six Harris County Constable’s Offices, including Pct. 4 Constable Ron Hickman’s, and five supporting educational and social service agencies.

During the last school year, the DA’s Office sent 33,397 warning letters. There were 7,681 students and/or parents charged with truancy. Of those, 3,343 signed pretrial diversion agreements. There were 2,566 convictions, and 78 truants were charged with contempt of court for failing to follow judicial sanction orders.

The program covers kindergarten through 12th grades. Ninth graders had the largest percentage of truancy warning letters - 16.6 percent of the total.

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