“[It] made me realize the importance of coming to school on time every day and getting
my work done. When the Truancy Court Program helped me get on track I realized how
good it felt to achieve my goals and be at the top of all of my classes, and I can’t
thank them enough for that.”
The Tackling Chronic Absenteeism Project (TCAP) is non-punitive and strictly voluntary
for students and their families. Like all of CFCC's programs, the TCAP is based on
a therapeutic, holistic and non-adversarial approach to the law. The TCAP rewards
students for positive behaviors and provides weekly incentives to encourage school
attendance.
The TCAP is based on an early intervention model and targets students who are “soft”
truants – students who have from 5 to 30 unexcused absences in a semester – in the
belief that this group still has academic, social and emotional connections to the
school. The TCAP is a preventive program, attempting to address the underlying causes
of chronic absenteeism before it becomes chronic and more difficult to change.
The program operates weekly in each school for 10 to 14 weeks per session, with two
sessions (Fall and Spring) each school year. A key component of each weekly meeting
is a conversation between the student and a Maryland judge or magistrate, who volunteers to support the TCAP. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to attend these
meetings if they can.
Features of the program include:
A TCAP Attorney provides legal guidance and referrals to legal services providers, individual advocacy
and information regarding educational rights designed to enable students and families
to become effective self-advocates.
A TCAP Coordinator serves as the program’s liaison with judges and schools.
A TCAP Mentor works with students and parents participating in the TCAP and facilitates character-building/restorative
practices classes and individual mentoring. During each TCAP session, students participate
in Restorative Practice Circles led by the TCAP Mentor. These circles facilitate discussions
among students and the TCAP staff on a variety of topics, including poverty, academic
issues, peer pressure and social rejection. Students learn communication and problem-solving
techniques they can put to use in their daily lives. The TCAP Mentor also meets with
students one-on-one, as needed, and communicates with parents at least once a week
to ensure that they remain engaged, informed and empowered.
A TCAP Social Worker provides counseling and advocacy and makes referrals to services providers.
Recognition of students’ progress includes weekly incentives or rewards for achievement, and each session culminates in a graduation ceremony that recognizes all students’ participation. Graduates, who demonstrate a substantial
increase in attendance, better classroom behavior and/or improved grades, receive
a gift and a graduation certificate. Other students receive a certificate of improvement
or participation.
Workshops help students visualize a successful future and realize their dreams—from school
choice and the college application process to employment rights and résumé writing.
Parent outreach and workshops empower families to address a wide range of issues that can help families achieve
their goals—understanding their legal and educational rights, financial literacy and
information on college admission and financial aid, for example.
Enrichment activities, based on funding availability, celebrate students’ achievements and help engage
parents in the TCAP through events such as pizza parties, fun/educational activities
and excursions.
