NLCHP Submits Testimony on DC Anti-Truancy Bill

Causes of Truancy Are Complex, Include Homelessness and Housing Insecurity

Ignoring the severe impact it would have on homeless families, the D.C. City Council bill has proposed a bill that would require prosecuting parents of chronically truant children. Joining Gray Administration officials who have called it expensive, unneeded and an overreach of legislative power, the Law Center submitted joint testimony, with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless that explores the complex causes of truancy, including the roles of homelessness and housing insecurity. Of District of Columbia Public Schools enrolled students in February 2013, 2453 students or more than 5% were homeless.

Eric Tars, Human Rights Program Director of the Law Center and Marta Beresin, Staff Attorney of the Legal Clinic, concluded their testimony by noting that the District can comprehensively address its child truancy problem only if it tackles head on its child homelessness problem. Given the newly projected surpluses for FY 14, 15 and beyond, they said, the opportunity is present.

To read the testimony, click here.