Southeast : Ordinance Would Crack Down on Truants
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The Long Beach City Council has directed its staff to draft a law that would fine truants a maximum of $250 or 20 hours of community service. The ordinance, expected to be presented to the council for approval in about a week, would affect anyone under age 18 on school days between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. who is not carrying a note from a parent or guardian giving a legitimate reason for the absence.
“There are no teeth to the current rules and that’s a problem,” said Councilman Jerry Schultz, who introduced the legislation more than a year ago.
According to the Long Beach Truancy Abatement Program, administered by police and the school district, students playing hooky can number as high as 250 in the district of 81,000 students.
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