[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 123 (Friday, July 25, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7480-S7481]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 624--DESIGNATING AUGUST 2008 AS ``NATIONAL TRUANCY 
                           PREVENTION MONTH''

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself and Mr. Hatch) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 624

       Whereas public schools in the United States are facing a 
     dropout crisis, with approximately 1,200,000 students not 
     graduating from high school on time and only 70 percent of 
     students earning high school diplomas;
       Whereas truancy has been shown to be the first and best 
     indicator that a child will drop out of school, use marijuana 
     for the first time, and commit juvenile crimes by the age of 
     15;
       Whereas the incidence of truancy in a recent national 
     survey found that 11 percent of eighth grade students, 16 
     percent of tenth grade students, and 35 percent of twelfth 
     grade students reported skipping 1 or more days of school 
     during the previous 30 days;
       Whereas chronic truants often miss more days of school than 
     they attend;
       Whereas absentee rates relate directly to graduation rates 
     and are highest in public schools in urban areas;
       Whereas truant eighth graders are more likely to say they 
     do not believe they will graduate from high school or attend 
     college than their peers who attend regularly;
       Whereas truancy has been found to be a risk factor for 
     substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and school dropout;
       Whereas the average annual income for a high school dropout 
     in 2005 was $17,299, compared to $26,933 for a high school 
     graduate;
       Whereas it has been demonstrated that when truancy is 
     addressed, there is a reduction in the rates of daytime 
     crime, juvenile crime, drug use, and delinquency;

[[Page S7481]]

       Whereas effective truancy reduction programs can take many 
     forms and can be implemented in many different settings, 
     including in schools, courts, and through community programs;
       Whereas truancy prevention programs focused on middle grade 
     students are key to preventing future dropouts; and
       Whereas truancy reduction programs are highly cost 
     effective, reduce juvenile and adult crime, and save taxpayer 
     money: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates August 2008 as ``National Truancy Prevention 
     Month'';
       (2) recognizes the significant harm of chronic truancy to 
     the youth of the United States;
       (3) acknowledges the work being done by truancy prevention 
     programs throughout the United States to help at-risk youth; 
     and
       (4) encourages law enforcement, school officials, the 
     judiciary, community leaders, and the business community to 
     work together to address truancy.

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