Local school districts will monitor a child's attendance and notify the parent when a child begins to have attendance problems. With the help of the local school, a parent can have an immediate impact on the child's behavior. If a child continues to fail to meet the attendance requirement, the local schools will inform the Department of Education who will share the information with the Departments of Treasury and Social Services. This problem is not restricted to any race, geographic location, or income level. It is a statewide problem that must be confronted if we are to break the cycle of dependency for Michigan's future generations.
Every child has a right to be born into a family where it is wanted by both parents.
It is a proven fact that teen pregnancy greatly increases the likelihood of poverty and dependence on public assistance. Teen pregnancy causes an interruption in school, if not a failure to complete school. Failure to complete school places limits on a teen's future earning potential. The number of births among teens 20 years and younger has increased 11.8 percent since 1987. As a society, we must do a better job of providing information about sexual activity to our teens and pre-teens.