Submitted Resolutions

Floor Speech

SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS -- (Senate - July 25, 2008)

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;

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.

Source