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Washington Examiner: D.C. bill to crack down on truants’ parents faces opposition
A story from Eric Newcomer of the Washington Examiner to preview DC Council’s hearing on a legislative proposal to address school truancy includes quotes from Children’s Law Center executive director Judith Sandalow.
Children’s Law Center’s experience working with more than 2,000 children and families each year has shown that truancy has many causes. In DC, undiagnosed learning disabilities or mental health concerns are two major causes of truancy, and the fear of violence – from abusive boyfriends/girlfriends, gangs, or bullies – is another potential cause.
“A lot of kids have been failed by the school system and that’s why they’re not going to school,” Sandalow told the Examiner. “Kids are truant for a really wide variety of reasons.”