Truancy and Chronic Absenteeism Policies Impacting Migrant Students in Pennsylvania.

• In Event: Research In Progress Roundtable Session 5
  In Invited Roundtable: Policy Issues in Secondary and Postsecondary Education: Absenteeism, Cell Phones, and Student Debt (Table 14)

Abstract

In Pennsylvania, truancy policies are governed by the state’s Compulsory Attendance Laws, which aim to address unexcused absences and hold parents accountable for their children’s school attendance (Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2016.) These policies include using School Attendance Improvement Plans (SAIPs) designed to tackle underlying causes of truancy, such as mental health issues, family challenges, and other barriers to attendance. I argue that these policies might negatively impact migrant students, who face unique challenges. Some migrant students often experience frequent mobility, which can disrupt their education, especially if they are dealing with housing insecurity. This guides my inquiry on how might these policies, which are intended to reduce absenteeism, actually be causing significant harm to migrant families and children.

Author

• Anali Silva Puentes, University of Pittsburgh