Truancy

Mar 1 2012

Penalties move from ‘punitive to restorative’

The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday gave final approval to changes in the truancy law that, pending approval by the mayor, would delay fines until a third offense and dramatically reduce the base fine for skipping school from $250 to $20.

The plan, introduced by Councilman Tony Cardenas and supported by Councilman Bernard Parks, contains new penalty options for a first or second violation. Offenders would be able to either propose a plan for how to improve their attendance, perform community service, tutoring or mentoring, or attend an after-school program.

Sep 23 2011

Workforce Investment Grant

LOS ANGELES, Calif.—Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced the city will receive at least $10 million in federal funds to help keep chronically absent students in school.

The federal Workforce Investment Grant will be given to the Los Angeles Unified School District to hire full-time staff that will work with students year-round to improve attendance.

The grant could be as high as $13 million. The amount might go up after Congress finalizes its budget, but $10 million is guaranteed.

Jun 10 2011

Violation of a new truancy law

LONG BEACH, Calif.—The 43-year-old mother of a middle school student was arrested because of her son's irregular attendance in school, a violation of a new truancy law in Long Beach.

Ermila Zamora was arrested Monday after school officials noticed the boy had missed more than 20 days of school, said Rico Fernandez of the Long Beach Police Department.

Marisol Aguilar  |   OW Contributor
Nov 11 2010

Program works to make a difference

In an effort to reduce the rate of crime among adolescents and prevent young offenders from becoming habitual lawbreakers, the City of Lancaster has operated Teen Court in the Antelope Valley for the past 15 years.

The award-winning program is an alternative diversion activity where minors are able to act as jurors in teen trials that are usually cases which the investigating detective and the supervising probation officer have deemed as qualified for “Teen Court.”

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.