Truancy Regulations

Truant

A child ages 6 to 17 years meets the definition of a truant when the child has three (3) consecutive unlawful absences or a total of five (5) or more unlawful absences.

Habitual Truant

A “habitual truant” is a child age 12 to 17 years who fails to comply with the intervention plan developed by the school, the child, and the parent(s) or guardian(s) and who accumulates two or more additional unlawful absences. This child may need court intervention and an initial truancy petition may be filed.

Chronic Truant

A “chronic truant” is a child ages 12 to 17 years who has been through the school intervention process, has reached the level of a “habitual truant”, has been referred to Family Court and placed on an order to attend school, and continues to accumulate unlawful absences. Should other community alternatives and referrals fail to remedy the attendance problem, the “chronic truant” may be referred to the Family Court for violation of a previous court order.

What If My Child Refuses To Go To School?

Call 864.355.2852 and report the problem. If your child continues to miss school unlawfully, the school will schedule an intervention conference with you and your child. At that time, a plan will be devised to improve your child's attendance. If your child continues to miss school unlawfully, the case may be referred to Family Court for further intervention.