Judge David Stowe

    Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court

Grand Traverse County Family Court

The Truancy Intervention Program is a collaborative effort, within the community, that strives to ensure an education for every child, improves attendance, reduce juvenile crime, and increase parents involvement and accountability.
    Parents play a key role in the education of their children. This applies to every family regardless of the parents' station in life, their income, or educational background. Enforcing truancy laws starts on intervention process that helps identify causes and helps families in crisis. It also underlines the importance of parents and child responsibility and accountability.
    A child is considered truant when the student has no valid reason for missing school. At the principal's discretion, records may be forwarded to the truancy coordinator for review. This includes being late for class, excessive amount of days absent due to illness without verification from a doctor, missing one or more hours of class without a valid reason, or any absence reported as unverified or unexcused by the student's home school.
    School officials understand that special circumstances may arise from time to time, please contact your child's home school and let them know the situation. Communication is very important between the parent and school personnel. Excused absences may include illness, emergency doctor's appointment, religious holiday, death in the family, or an approved field trip.