Lauren Velazquez, M.P.P. and Alexandra Dufresne, J.D.

Connecticut's new law requiring school-level truancy data to be included in Strategic School Profiles (effective July 1, 2009) is a cost-neutral and common sense measure to improve academic performance and graduation rates. Because Connecticut's State Department of Education already collects school- level truancy data in order to comply with federal law, this law imposes no new reporting obligations on schools or school districts. It simply makes existing data public and readily accessible.

Truancy is the "canary in the coal mine," an early warning sign of academic failure. Research shows that ninth grade attendance is the best predictor of whether a student will graduate from high school. Truancy also contributes to juvenile delinquency.

Publishing existing truancy data will help school leaders, parents and the community identify, evaluate, and replicate successful strategies for keeping children in school. (July 2009)

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