Dallas ISD GPS truancy program losing funding

by PegNews wire

The successful program has already had to drop aspects, like family counseling, that were vital to its success.

Some alternative programs are significantly cheaper.

Nine students at Bryan Adams High School wear a GPS unit daily to school, and no, it's not a Boost mobile phone. The Dallas County Truancy Court ordered the nine students (last year 46 students) to wear a GPS unit that would monitor their location, with voice recognition no less, to keep them from skipping school. The successful program has brought the students attendance up to 97%. The same students who averaged 55 missed school days before entering the program.

However, a tight upcoming budget for 2008-2009 means that the program will be forced to seek federal aid to continue, an application that has not yet been approved. Vital aspects of the program, including family counseling, have already been removed.

Posted by Erin