Truancy Program Wins State Award
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A Ventura County program to reduce truancy has won a statewide award for its effectiveness and creativity.
The award was given by the California State Assn. of Counties, which conducts an annual competition to honor programs that demonstrate leadership, innovation and effectiveness, as well as the potential to be modeled by other counties across the state.
Ventura County’s Truancy Referral and Prosecution program was one of 28 winners of this year’s merit awards.
Sponsored by educators, prosecutors and probation officials, the program was developed to crack down on habitual truants and their parents while monitoring the attendance of about 350 students at risk of slipping away from school.
Under the county program, teachers and probation officials regularly meet with truant students and their parents to encourage attendance. Officials said prosecution is pursued as a last resort.
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