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Children are Successful in School (Allegany County)

Story Behind the Curve

While improving, truancy continues to be an area of concern.Local school personnel report family health issues, financial problems, substance abuse, depression, bullying and harassment, and homelessness as the main causes of chronic absenteeism.To address these issues, LMB-funded programs work to build a connected community by building social competencies, increasing student engagement, providing professional development for school staff on nonacademic barriers to school success, educating and involving parents, and early intervention.A barrier to these efforts is the lack of safe and affordable activities to engage youth.

Strategies to improve these indicators

  • Expanded Diversion Services
  • Juvenile Review Board
  • Substance Abuse Intervention for At-Risk Youth

Why Is This Important?

School success is important to the community and the Local Management Board (LMB).Allegany County has high rates of truancy, an increase in reported bullying in the schools as well as high rates of adolescent substance abuse and the increase in non-violent juvenile arrests in Allegany County are areas of concern.Truancy is defined as unlawfully not attending school consistently within one school year.Students who are classified as chronically or habitually truant miss 20% of school days (excused or unexcused) in a given period of the school year.Reasons for students being truant from school include: family and health related issues, financial demands, substance abuse, mental health problems, bullying, and lack of connectedness.

Truancy has been clearly defined as one of the early warning signs of students headed for potential delinquent activity, social isolation, or educational failure as the result of suspension, expulsion, or dropping out.Further a lack of commitment to school has been established by several studies as a risk factor for substance abuse, delinquency, and teen pregnancy.Educational attainment, including the type of education one receives, has a direct effect on a person’s well-being and economic security throughout life. Programs that provide early intervention are needed to ensure that youth most at-risk have the supports need to be successful in school.

Absenteeism and truancy contribute to lost learning opportunities and have negative long-term consequences for students and communities. High levels of school absence are associated with a higher risk of school failure, high school dropout, delinquent behavior, substance abuse, and other high-risk behaviors

Data Discussion

Measures

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Current Actual Value
Current Target Value
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Scorecard Container Measure Action Actual Value Target Value Tag S A m/d/yy m/d/yyyy