What do you do when you pick up a truant?

What do you do when you pick up a truant?

• A. Deliver the child to a principal or designee of the school they are enrolled in; if impractical, borough truancy site
• B. Call the parent to pick up immediately
• C. Place the student in a holding cell until school reopens
• D. Return the student to class

Answer: (A)

When addressing a truancy pickup, the priority is to return the student to a safe, supervised educational setting under school authority. The correct approach is to deliver the child to a principal or designee at the school they are enrolled in. This ensures the student re-enters the school environment, the school can verify attendance and address the reasons for truancy, and the process follows established truancy procedures. If returning to that school isn’t practical, using the designated borough truancy site provides a controlled, supervised option for accountability and next steps with the family. This approach emphasizes safety, proper oversight, and the goal of re-engaging the student with education, rather than actions like releasing the student to a parent at the scene, placing them in a holding cell, or sending them back to class while they remain truant.

When addressing a truancy pickup, the priority is to return the student to a safe, supervised educational setting under school authority. The correct approach is to deliver the child to a principal or designee at the school they are enrolled in. This ensures the student re-enters the school environment, the school can verify attendance and address the reasons for truancy, and the process follows established truancy procedures. If returning to that school isn’t practical, using the designated borough truancy site provides a controlled, supervised option for accountability and next steps with the family.

This approach emphasizes safety, proper oversight, and the goal of re-engaging the student with education, rather than actions like releasing the student to a parent at the scene, placing them in a holding cell, or sending them back to class while they remain truant.