Clark and Cowlitz Truancy Projects
The Truancy Project is collaboration between Clark County Juvenile Justice, Cowlitz County Juvenile Justice, the Courts, Clark and Cowlitz County school districts and Educational Service District 112 in response to Washington State’s Becca Law. The Becca Law deemed truancy a civil offense, punishable by fines, community service or jail time.
The Truancy Project seeks to intervene with truant youth and their families to provide them a positive way to return to school and increase student academic achievement.
Referral to the Truancy Project
The Becca Law, established in 1995, requires that a student has no more than 7 unexcused absences in a month or 10 during a school year. Originally, the law covered 8-18 year old youth but was expanded in July 1999 to include parents of 6 and 7 year olds as well.
If a student meets this criterion, the school district and/or the student's home school, depending on district policy, is mandated to file a truancy petition with the Juvenile Court. If the student fails to follow this order and does not return to school or has even one more unexcused absence, the district and/or building is required to refer the student to the Truancy Project as documented in the Truancy petition.