Truancy has been labeled one of the top ten major problems in schools in the United States and identified as one of the most powerful predictors of delinquency. Many students stay home from school because they are afraid of being bullied. Students who are not in schools learning may find other, less acceptable ways to occupy their time. About half of serious violent juvenile victimizations occur between noon and 6 p.m.
Decreased school attendance hurts the individual and society. Absence from school affects a student’s achievement, promotion, graduation, self-esteem, and employment potential. Independent of the lost educational opportunities, truancy comes with other societal costs.
Source: SAMHSA, an Agency of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services