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Camden School District Rolls Out New Approach To Tackle Truancy Problem

CAMDEN, NJ (CBS) -- The Camden School District has spent years trying to tackle its truancy problem. This school year they have rolled out a more personal approach to deal with the reasons why kids miss school. But how does the new program work and is it having an impact?

Steven Sloane-El has spent years walking the streets of Camden alerting parents that their kid hasn't been in class at Camden High School. The first absence is a call from the school. He gets involved when the number hits three.

"Three days, I make a phone call to see what is going on," Sloane-El said. "Five days, I do a home visit."

On Wednesday he made nearly a half-dozen stops at homes where kids missed nine or more days this year. At ten days, the court gets involved.

"We're asking a lot of proactive questions,"said Maggie Sorby, who runs the attendance offices.

Last year, 38-percent of the district's 10,000 students missed 18 or more days. Now they're sending attendance officers to find out why, and to connect kids to services.

And Sloane-El is on a mission.

"To see Camden High's attendance rate at 100 percent," he said.

A deeper look reveals in many cases bullying, custody issues, pregnancy and other issues play a role in children missing school.

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