MOBILE, Ala. (
WALA
) – Keeping students in the classroom has been a priority for school officials and Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood who launched the Helping Families Initiative in 2023 to cut back on truancy which is seven or more unexcused absences as well as chronic absenteeism which is 18 or more absences of any kind.
“We know that chronic school absences can lead to increased juvenile victimization as well as juvenile crime. This effects not just those students but the safety and well-being of our entire community,” said Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood.
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The Helping Families Initiative works by identifying a family in need and connecting them with resources to help with any problems they may be going through. After a strong first year, Blackwood says the numbers are even better after year two.
“In two years of our program school truancy is down 50% and chronic absenteeism dropped by 58%. The lowest rates we’ve seen in a decade,” said Blackwood.
Six school showed the strongest improvement after this past school year. Vigor High School saw a 30% decrease in truancy while Theodore High School is down 17%. In middle school, Washington Middle School is down 27% while Semmes Middle is down 11%. Forest hill saw the biggest decrease out of elementary schools with 31% and Collins Rhodes is down 21%.
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“Our student achievement has increased,” said Superintendent Chresal Threadgill. “If they’re there every day engaged in learning it’s a benefit for us all and we’ll prove that in our numbers in our state report card.”
It’s all part of the district attorney’s office’s Every Day Counts campaign which is a reminder of the importance of classroom attendance and make the most out of summer with different programs and chances to catch up on missed schoolwork.
“This is giving children the opportunity to take advantage of some really good things, jobs in Mobile County,” said Blackwood.
“That’s for learning loss because of students who miss multiple days and are tardy we try to catch them up during the summer so that summer approach is critical for students who miss during the school year,” said Threadgill.
Blackwood is also urging students and parents to be mindful of all online activity this summer.
