Ingham County Prosecutor Stuart Dunnings III said cooperation between schools and prosecutors in his district has helped improve attendance. By 1998-99, that number had improved to 89 percent. It can work. Nancy Campbell, the assistant superintendent in Berkley, said she has seen parents drop kids off up to two hours late for school with no valid reason. She said the bills would give more weight to attendance policies.
Truancy is a problem across the state.
It's not just a problem in urban districts. Peters said students who aren't in school are more likely to get in trouble with the law. He said the driver' s license bill could be a major incentive for older students to stay in school. For younger students, the bills would make sure parents are involved. The bills also would allow the Family Independence Agency to get involved in cases of educational neglect.