Background: Exclusionary discipline (e.g. suspension and expulsion) is associated with lower student achievement, drop-out, and involvement in the juvenile justice system. Recently, states and school districts have begun to restrict exclusionary discipline, but there remains much to be learned about the potential impact on students. Research…

Afterschool programs have been operating for decades in communities across the country, and federal investment in afterschool has increased dramatically since the mid-1990s. However, even more investment in the field of afterschool, which includes before school, afterschool and summer learning programs, is needed to keep up with the growing…

The effectiveness of a school-based truancy court intervention in four middle schools in a mid-sized school district was evaluated. Cumulative data from 185 youth attending a truancy court from 2004 through 2008 were included in the analyses. Results indicated a differential impact of the truancy court intervention depending on truancy severity at…

Describes the administrative policy developed to deal with student truancy at Harlem South High School in Rockford, Illinois. The policy calls for intensive monitoring of attendance and involves parents as well as school officials. It is said to be successful in reducing truancy rates. (GC)

In an in-school suspension setting, the effects of a therapeutic discipline program and a nontherapeutic discipline program on truants' attitudes and attendance were compared. It was found that therapeutic discipline students (a) held less positive attitudes towards attendance; (b) had better records of attendance; and (c) demonstrated greater…