In a statewide push to combat rising truancy rates, the Louisiana Supreme Court is strengthening its collaboration with educators, judges, social workers, and community leaders. Spearheaded by Chief Justice John L. Weimer, this initiative follows a series of high-level discussions aimed at addressing the alarming trend of absenteeism among K-12 public school students in Louisiana, where truancy rates are reported to be over 40 percent.
Earlier this year, Chief Justice Weimer met with the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) and representatives from the Governor’s Office to explore joint strategies to combat the root causes of chronic absenteeism. The meetings inspired action across sectors, with stakeholders now organizing a statewide summit to develop solutions.
Chief Justice Weimer addressed the issue directly during the Teacher Leadership Summit held in June. Speaking to educators from across the state, he emphasized the broader consequences of student absenteeism. “There is a statistical correlation between absenteeism, truancy, and crime,” he said. “Part of our mission as judges, educators, and community leaders should be to be proactive and involved in addressing behaviors among Louisiana children to hopefully deter criminal activities.”
At the summit, Storm Ehlers, Deputy Judicial Administrator for the Division of Children and Families, also highlighted the importance of early intervention. She discussed the Families in Need of Services Assistance Program (FINS-AP), which focuses on connecting families with the resources they need to prevent truancy from escalating.
The issue was also front and center at the recent Families in Need of Services Association Conference, where Chief Justice Weimer was again a featured speaker. He was joined by other judges who shared insights from their local initiatives to reduce truancy and support at-risk youth.
Looking ahead, a Solutions Summit is planned for later this year to continue the momentum. The summit will bring together members of the judiciary, educators, and other community partners to develop comprehensive strategies for reducing absenteeism and re-engaging students across Louisiana.
The post Louisiana Supreme Court and Educators Join Forces to Tackle Truancy Crisis appeared first on Big Easy.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
