Causes & Effects of Truancy

Truancy often is a sympton of more serious problems. Enforcing truancy laws starts the intervention process that can assist families in crisis. 

    Children may be dealing with:

• Peer pressure
• Separation or divorce within the family
• Abuse or neglect
• Mental & physical health issues
• Drug and alcohol abuse by a parent and/or the student
• Moving repeatedly
• Low self esteem
• Financial problems
• Lack of friends
• Safety concerns which may include pressure from gangs to threats and intimidation
• Lack of academic skills
• Boredom

The Effects of Truancy:

Students who become truant and eventually drop out of school too often set themselves up for a life struggle. 

    Effects of truancy for the student include:

• Decreased earning ability
• Involvement in daytime crime, such as breaking and entering, vandalism, and shoplifting
• Increased risk of dropping out of school
• Two and a half times more likely to be on welfare
• Involvement in gangs
• Struggling to catch up with school assignments
• Failing classes
• Risk of not obtaining a higher education

    Effect of Truancy on Others:

• Truancy affects an entire class when a teacher slows down to help the truant student
• An increase in crime means more victims
• Increased cost to the whole community for additional law enforcement
• Welfare costs to society