Houston City Council members approved the authorization of a grant application to the state of Texas that would allow the city to partner with Houston ISD in a program aimed at addressing youth truancy.
The details
Council members approved the measure during the council’s Jan. 27 meeting.
The city is seeking roughly $664,000 through the state to help fund the city’s Juvenile Case Manager Program. According to agenda documents, the program aims to improve student attendance and deter involvement in the juvenile justice system by:
Identifying truant youthAssessing factors contributing to truancyProviding case management and appropriate referral services to youth and familiesA closer look
According to the city’s website, students are considered “truant” when a student between the ages of 12-19 fails to attend school on 10 or more days in a six-month period within the same school year.
While council members did not comment on the item during the Jan. 27 meeting, HISD officials said the district has partnered with the city on the initiative since 2009.
“Through this partnership, campuses can receive full-time, on-campus support from a City of Houston Juvenile Case Manager,” officials said in an emailed statement.
HISD officials said the case managers will help at-risk and truant students by:
Collaborating with campus administrative teams and attendance offices to identify truant students who are placed on a caseloadConducting check-ins with individuals, and sometimes their families, to identify and remove barriers keeping students from attending schoolsConnecting with students outside of the regular school day and during district recess periods by providing fun activities that strengthen their bond with students and familiesWhat’s next
If the grant funding is approved, the city and HISD would be required to use the money to help fund the Juvenile Case Manager Program between Sept. 1 and Aug. 31, 2027, according to agenda documents.
Emily Lincke contributed to this report.