The Nebraska State Education Association, Building Bright Futures, and the Nebraska Broadcasters Association joined forces to create TruancySolutions.org. The goal is to educate parents and students on the importance of regular school attendance and the long-term impact that truancy has on a student’s life.
Each day, more than 5,000 Omaha metro students are absent from school.
During the 2009 – 2010 school year, nearly 22,000 Nebraska students missed more than 20 days of school.
93% of freshman who miss less than a week of school over the course of a year, graduate on time, in four years.
According to the Nebraska Department of Education, one in every 10 students statewide drop out of school and do not graduate within the typical 4-year high school program. The graduation rate is even lower for most Omaha Metro area schools.
During the 2010 – 2011 school year, 4th graders who missed more than 20 days of school scored 21 points lower on statewide reading assessments than those who missed fewer than 20 days.
During the 2010 – 2011 school year, 11th graders who missed more than 20 days of school scored 30 points lower on statewide reading assessments than those who missed fewer than 20 days.
According to a study of 13,000 Philadelphia school district students, those who are at risk for dropping out of school can be identified as early as 6th grade with four simple indicators:
Research shows frequently absent eighth-graders had less than a 50% high school graduation rate.
In one year, 1,000 students were referred to the Douglas County attorney for 20 or more school absences.
Habitual truancy is the first indicator of the eventual dropping out of school.
TruancySolutions.org has compiled a comprehensive assemblage of educational sites and studies all focused on addressing and answering the truancy problem.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Midlands (BBBS) believes that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As a donor and volunteer supported mentoring organization, they are here to help children reach their potential, and through them, transform families, schools and communities.
Girls Inc., Pathfinders is a long-term match program where mentors work with a young lady until she is a senior in high school. Girls are accepted into the program between the ages of 10 and 14.
Goodwill® GoodGuides is a national mentoring program for youth between the ages of 12 and 17 who are at risk for making harmful choices such as dropping out of school or joining a gang. Funded by a two-year grant to Goodwill Industries International from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Goodwill GoodGuides program is run by 56 independent Goodwill agencies around the country.
The Hope Center for Kids is an after-school and summer program located in North Omaha. Mentors spend six hours per month with a specific student in fourth through twelfth grade. This time can include a combination of program activities and pursuing interests one-on-one.
Amachi is a unique partnership involving both the secular and faith-based organizations working together to provide mentoring for children impacted by incarcerated parents and/or high crime areas.
Child Saving Institute provides three different mentoring opportunities to Omaha’s Community. In the School and Family Enrichment (SAFE) program, CSI partners with Omaha Public School students in developing social skills, increasing coping skills, enhancing their self image, learning strategies for responsible decision-making, assisting with homework and providing one-on-one support and friendship.
The Just Friends Program of Ollie Webb Center, Inc. is a peer mentoring and friendship program that matches adolescents (ages 13 – 18 years) with developmental disabilities (e.g., Learning Disabilities, Down syndrome, Autism, etc.) to adolescents without disabilities. Just Friends was created to bring social, recreational and friendship opportunities to individuals with disabilities.
The Omaha Home for Boys is a non-profit residential group home that provides a structured living environment in a cottage setting with caring House Parents, balanced meals and educational support for boys ages 10-18.
Youth Emergency Services has four programs that strive to provide homeless, at-risk and street dependent youth with the support necessary to thrive through a Drop In Center and Emergency Shelter that serves youth ages 13-21, Maternity Group Home and Transitional Living Program serving youth ages 16-21 in the Omaha and Council Bluffs areas.
The National Education Association supports making high school graduation a national priority. Find information, resources and tools at NEA’s Droput Prevention site.
The Omaha Street School is a private high school located in North Omaha, designed specifically for teens struggling in a traditional school setting. Utilizing an approach focused on the whole child, OSS incorporates core principles and values into its daily school activities.
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