District 22 District Attorney Erik Johnson announced this week a renewed truancy initiative spearheaded by his office that is aimed at reducing the truancy rates across all school districts in Pontotoc, Seminole, and Hughes Counties. “This is an issue that I campaigned on and is very near and dear to my heart,” Erik Johnson said. “Education is a cornerstone upon which a successful life is built, and in order to build one must be present.”

Chronic absenteeism has been identified by the Oklahoma Department of Education as one of the greatest challenges to both school districts and individual students. Studies have shown that if a student misses even just two days a month, they are missing 60 hours of reading and 30 hours of math instruction for the year, which is crucial to academic success. During the early elementary years, students missing consistent instruction are at risk of falling behind in their studies, which impacts future learning. “There is a direct correlation between chronic absenteeism and high school dropout rates,” Johnson said. “Additionally, school funding is tied in many instances to the daily attendance rate, so this is a double-edged sword when you have truancy issues in a household- both the school and the child suffers.”

This truancy effort will begin in the last three months of the 2022-2023 school year with outreach to all District 22 superinten(See dents and building principals. “I took office on January 3rd, and it took me the first several weeks to get my feet on the ground, orient my new staff, and get through some looming trial issues,” Johnson said. “I wanted to announce this push before this school year was any further along, to allow parents an opportunity to become familiar with how my office will be handling truancy issues in the 20232024 school year.”

Along with outreach to area educators and administrators, the District Attorney’s Office will be sending truancy notification letters to parents that have truancy issues in their household. If truancy issues remain systemic after this initial warning letter, then criminal charges of Violation of the Compulsory Education Act will be filed and the parents of the truant child will be brought before the Court. This court appearance will be on a truancy docket that will resume in Pontotoc County in April of 2023, and truancy issues in Seminole and Hughes will be collected and docketed on a special docket if the numbers allow. The penalty for violating the Compulsory Education Act is up to five days in the county jail, and/ or a $50 fine for each unexcused absence after parents have received a warning. After a truancy conviction is received, the penalty increases. Students ages 15 ½ and older could also have their driver’s license or permit revoked for truancy.

“I believe I have a responsibility to every child in District 22, and this is a responsibility I take very seriously,” Johnson said. “I want our District’s children to have every opportunity for success both now and in the future, and they have to be in school on a regular, consistent basis to receive the benefits of a good education.”