TIP is aimed at reducing juvenile crime in Miami-Dade County as well as at getting students to attend school consis tently. TIP combines early intervention with enforcement of Florida's education laws.
Early intervention helps eliminate problems associated with chronic school absenteeism.
The program was first launched in 1994 as a pilot in four elementary schools. It has succeeded in reducing truancy and violations of the Code of Student Conduct, as well as improving scholastic achievement, among almost 90 percent of the children targeted in the program. Parents and guardians of the students who attend schools participating in TIP will receive letters this fall advising them of their responsibilities to ensure the regular school attendance of their children and compliance with state laws.