The foundation of every state is the education
of its youth.

—Diogenes Laertius

Truancy mediation helps students stay in school

South Carolina law dictates that after a student incurs ten unexcused absences from school, he or she is referred to Family Court. While some students will begin attending school regularly after their absences are brought to the attention of the parents and the court, others will continue to miss school and can ultimately be sentenced to the Department of Juvenile Justice and placed in a mixed population with violent offenders.

Our Truancy Mediation Program helps students stay in school and out of the juvenile justice system because it serves as an intervention to prevent students from acquiring more unexcused absences. In Truancy Mediation, the students, their families, and school administrators have the opportunity to address the underlying causes of truancy and to collaborate on approaches to resolve them. Personal attention is available during mediation, which allows students and families to communicate more honestly and craft a plan that fits each student’s particular needs.

This program is provided without charge to the elementary schools in Lexington School District Two. Since August 2008, over 100 students have been referred to the program.

School administrators refer children and their families to mediation before state law requires they be referred to Family Court. Mediation is an attractive alternative to prosecution under state law that saves the schools, the courts, and the public thousands of dollars.

Funding for the Truancy Mediation program is provided through grants from Women in Philanthropy.

For questions about this program, contact our Program Manager Antwanette Bowers.