Truancy Prevention and Truancy Referrals

Truancy is addressed when a child is habitually absent from school without a valid excuse, in violation of Wisconsin’s Compulsory School Attendance Law (Statute 118). Before a school submits a formal truancy referral to the Youth Justice Unit, a social worker will typically facilitate a pre-truancy meeting involving the school, the family, and the social worker. The goal of this meeting is to problem-solve the underlying issues contributing to the absences and to connect the family with appropriate resources or services in an effort to prevent further truancy. If these efforts are not successful and the youth continues to miss school without valid excuse, a truancy referral may be made for youth ages 5–17. Upon receiving the referral, a Youth Justice social worker will complete an intake to assess the situation. Outcomes may include case closure, Diversion to Dunn County's Truancy Court, a Deferred Prosecution Agreement focusing on improving school attendance, or formal court involvement if necessary. Truancy cases are approached with a focus on early intervention, family engagement, and identifying supports that promote consistent school attendance and overall student well-being.