AUSD Truancy Policy Serves as Model for Other LA Schools

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SEAN NGUYEN
Staff Writer

A major issue that is often tackled by school systems is truancy. In this frontier, the Alhambra Unified School District (AUSD) has been credited with making strong efforts in curbing student truancy.

In a report by the Los Angeles County Student Attendance Task Force (SATF), AUSD is cited as one of the nation’s best practice models for addressing attendance-related issues.
“AUSD has implemented a research-based, comprehensive approach to addressing student attendance issues that is nationally recognized and has generated several years’ worth of improved student attendance data,” the 2012 report stated. “As a result, in the 2009-2010 school year, the number of students labeled as truant fell to 2,263, a 42 percent reduction from 2008-2009.”

According to Assistant Principal of Student Services John Ashby, the AUSD takes a preventive stance towards attendance issues rather than a reactive one. Instead, AUSD leans towards measures that help students become able to make the decisions necessary to show up to class on time and ready to learn.

“We use progressive discipline to work with students as they actually make the decision to be truant,” Ashby said. “We have seen a lot of teacher and administrative involvement, but it ultimately is a student’s choice to be in attendance.”

Essential to AUSD’s preventive policies is the Gateway to Success program. This program connects schools, parents and students in an effort to provide the necessary resources for students to attend school regularly and on time.

“The goal of Gateway is to increase access to high-quality school-based mental health care by developing innovative, research-informed approaches that link the school system with the local mental health system,” the SATF report stated.

The district’s Director of Student Services, Laurel Bear, is credited for spearheading the original push to policies aimed at prevention and intervention throughout the district.

“[Bear] is fantastic,” Ashby said. “She’s responsible for the Gateway to Success program and she often participates as a keynote speaker for educating the districts administration and teachers about important truancy policies.”