Truancies Increase in Kane County Schools

In Kane County, truancy rates reached an all-time high for the 2012-2013 school year with local schools reporting 1,974 students for truancy help to the Kane County Regional Office of Education, according to the Daily Herald. 

That number increased by 61 students since the 2011-2012 school year and is 200 students higher than the 2009-10 school year, according to the Daily Herald.  School officials say the economy is partially to blame but also, a cut in funding has lead to a decrease in the number of truancy officers at schools, according to the Daily Herald. 

In Community Unit School District 300, truancies have increased in recent years. During the 2008-2009 school there, there were 10,395 truants, 969 chronic truants and 92 truant minors, according to the Illinois State Board of Education website. 

During the 2011-2012 school year, the number of truants rose to 13,693 with 1,797 chronic truants and 160 truant minors, according to the ISBE website.