Truancy, Suspensions Down at Petaluma's Biggest School District

Truancy, suspensions and expulsions at the city’s largest school district have all decreased over the past two years, the result of focused programs and extra attention from counselors, parents and mentors, according to .

Since the start of the 2009 school year, unexcused absences, or truancy, is down 17 percent, while suspensions and expulsions have been reduced by 14 and 5 percent respectively, according to district data.

See the breakdown on the right

David Rose, director of student services at the 7,500 student district, says the positive news can be attributed to more parental involvement on campuses, an increase in mentors and supportive programs that help students resolve conflicts such as Challenge Day, an annual event that teaches about tolerance and the dangers of bullying.

“I think what this shows is that we are making our campuses inviting and interesting places for our students...holding regular meetings with families and providing counseling for students who need it,” Rose said. “The less truancy we have, the more time our students spend in front of teachers.”

The district received an 810 API Growth score this year, an increase of 9 points from the previous year and an indication that it’s meeting state educational benchmarks.

The district runs dozens of programs and offers specialized staff to target student needs, like Lead Guidance Specialists who provide one-on-one and small group counseling, classroom presentations and professional development opportunities for staff to address mental health concerns.

At the middle and high school level, specialists run the Project Success program, which provides on site screening, group counseling and referral services for substance use as well as mental health issues.

But problems remain.

Despite overall decreases in absenteeism, suspensions and expulsions, these remain an issue for economically disadvantaged students, defined as those living in families with a median annual income of $25,000 or less.

Truancy by students in this group shot up by 20 percent over the past two years, while suspensions increased by 33 percent, according to district data.

Rose attributes the increase to more students whose families are finding themselves in dire financial straits because of the recession.

“Those are the ones who need the extra attention,” he said, adding that counselors, mentors as well as collaboration with police to identify students who may be in gangs are all aimed at tackling the challenge.

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