California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill that reversed the law that prosecuted parents for truant children. The pupil could even face prosecution.
Newsom signed SB691 into law that changed the language regarding truancy.
SB691 eliminated language regarding legal penalties the parents and pupil could face and suggested parents attend class with their child:
(c) That parents or guardians who fail to meet this obligation may be guilty of an infraction and subject to prosecution pursuant to Article 6 (commencing with Section 48290).(f) That the pupil may be subject to prosecution under Section 48264.(g) That it is recommended that the parent or guardian accompany the pupil to school and attend classes with the pupil for one day.
The bill added language about mental health services:
(e) That mental health and supportive services may be available to the pupil and the family.(f) That school personnel are available to meet with the pupil and family to develop strategies to support the pupil’s attendance at school.(g) That research shows that missing 10 percent of school for any reason can translate into pupils having difficulty learning to read by third grade, achieving in middle school, and graduating from high school.
Kamala Harris first championed the idea of prosecuting parents for truant children when she served as San Francisco district attorney:
As San Francisco district attorney, Harris prosecuted some parents as part of her efforts to reduce truancy. Harris’ office sent letters to San Francisco families at the start of the school year warning that they would face consequences if their children were chronically absent. Though part of her strategy involved threatening parents with jail time, her office didn’t actually send any to jail. Students who missed a big chunk of school in early grades are never able to catch up, she said, and those who drop out in high school are more likely to become homicide victims.In 2009, Harris touted data showing a 23% drop in truancy among San Francisco elementary school students as evidence her approach was working.At the time, she acknowledged her efforts were controversial, but she argued truancy was a serious enough problem to merit her aggressive approach.“If it takes me being the bad guy by highlighting the connection, by saying I’ll prosecute parents for truancy, I’ll do it,” she said at the time.
Then-California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made it a state law in 2010 when Harris served as the state’s attorney general.
The law “allowed parents of chronically truant students to be charged with misdemeanors and sentenced to up to a year in jail.”
15 years ago:
13 years ago:
Friday:
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