NorthEscambia.com reports that Circuit Judge Ross Goodman has written the Escambia County School Board a letter declaring that the district has a truancy crisis. Judge Goodman is proposing the district implement a School Truancy Operation Program (STOP).
Under the STOP program, law enforcement would transfer the youth to the Hope Center where the Department of Children and Families would be notified that the youth is truant. If the child has been through truancy court before, the presiding truancy judge will be notified. Parents will be required to pick up the child in person at the Hope Center.
At the Hope Center, the child will be presented with an age appropriate educational curriculum and a counselor will meet with the youth and parents together to address the incident and possible refer the family to other services.
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