Community Engagement Through Effective Truancy Prevention Measures

Counted Present is a San Antonio based, 501 (c)(3) which provides intervention and prevention services for children who are experiencing chronic absenteeism problems from Elementary School through High School in Bexar County. Ideally, all children that have reached a minimum of three unexcused absences are eligible for referral to the program for determination of root causes and corresponding remedies to failure to attend school. The purpose of the "failure to attend school" law was designed to encourage early intervention. Delays allow problems to escalate, making it harder to re-engage students before they drop out of school entirely. Preventing chronic absenteeism early reduces dropout risk, improves academic outcomes, and lowers future costs in juvenile justice, welfare, and remediation.

Key initiatives include:

Truancy Prevention Measures (TPMs): Collaborating with schools under Texas Education Code §25.0915 to implement proactive interventions before legal action becomes necessary.

· Mediation Programs: Providing non-punitive, school-based mediation that brings families, students, and schools together to solve attendance issues and avoid court referrals. Truancy mediator training.

· Feeder Pattern Model: Ensuring families with multiple children across different schools receive consistent and holistic support for attendance barriers.

· Leaver List Outreach: Helping districts re-engage students who have dropped out or become disconnected from the education system.

· Youth Law Education Program: A 12-week course teaching middle and high school students critical life skills, legal literacy, and positive decision-making.

· Consulting Services: Developing a system-based truancy intervention and prevention approach tailored to each School District and Community’s unique needs, resources, and student populations.

By combining public education forums, individualized family meetings, and collaboration with schools and community partners, Counted Present works to break cycles of truancy and promote long-term student success.