State schools chief, Maricopa County sheriff call for police to look into truancies

PHOENIX — Education and law enforcement officials in Maricopa County believe punitive measures could crack down on chronic student absenteeism.

It comes after a report from the Helios Education Foundation found one-third of Arizona public grade school students have been chronically absent from school.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is urging police departments to look out for truant students to lower that rate.

“My suggestion has been one that would deal more with the motivation of parents,” Horne said during a Wednesday press conference.

Since the pandemic, parents have “got in the habit of not caring as much as they should,” he added.

How would crackdown on chronic student absenteeism work?

Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan joined Horne in the push for more law enforcement related to school absences.

“People need to be responsible for their actions, or inaction in this case,” Sheridan said. “Whether that’s the parent or the child, we need to hold people accountable.”

To his knowledge, MCSO has not filed any citations related to truancy so far this year.

He also said it’s not entirely clear how police would tackle this problem yet.

Horne is also advocating for automatic retainment or loss of credit for students missing too much school. That’s modeled after the Dysart School District in Surprise.

Director of Student Services Craig Mussi explains students who miss nine or more days can be either held back or lose credits depending on their grade level. The process can be appealed, which is important since the policy does not differentiate from excused versus unexcused absences.

Efforts to fight chronic student absenteeism already underway

The district already also works with local law enforcement agencies, Mussi added.

“We have a lot of work with our law enforcement and their willing to visit homes and also, as necessary, write citations,” Mussi said. “But that’s a partnership so we’re on the same page and working with our families.”

Mussi adds these policies have resulted in a general absence rate of 7% and a lower chronic absence rate.

Horne also said officers already stationed at campuses can assist in looking into truancies.

“Law enforcement officers, if they see students are not in school and should be, they can inquire, there can be conversations with the family,” he said. “As the sheriff said, in appropriate cases, citations.”

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