Section 25.094 Failure to Attend School law is filed against the student. These charges are filed in the Justice Court of the parent's residence precinct. An offense under these sections are Class C misdemeanors. The Fort Bend ISD Police Department has implemented the ASAP program for the 1998-99 school year to reduce the number of truancies. The ASAP program is designed to notify parents of daily absences of their children.
Officers make home visits in an effort to minimize truancy problems.
The contact by the officer allows the school and community to establish a common bond to provide a better environment for success, as officers note in their ASAP reports, the parents are greatly appreciative of the school's effort to check on their children. This creates an increased awareness for parents to be knowledgeable of their child's whereabouts during school hours. ASAP also provides the parents and the school district the opportunity for early intervention. The causes for a student's absence are multi-factorial. Reasons range from illness to not having clothes to wear to school.