By: Kelly Sommariva
ksommariva@klkntv.com
Woody Allen once said 80 percent of success is showing up. You could say that was the intent of 2010's truancy law, but now lawmakers are looking to change it after outcry from parents.
Nebraska's current law requires a prosecutor to notify parents when a child has missed more than 20 days of school.
One student said, "I may be absent, but I am not a truant."
A bill from Senator Tony Fulton would modify that to let each school district review a student's case before having an option to file legal action.
State officials are against any changes to the truancy law that went into effect in 2010. Back then, about 22,000 Nebraska kids were missing more than 20 days of school. That's now down to about 18,000.
Roger Breed, commissioner of education, said, "The attention of school authorities, the attention of parents, the attention of county prosecutors and attorneys on school attendance is making a difference."
Mother of three Christine Bates said the current truancy takes away her right to be a parent.
"Education and becoming a well-rounded individual doesn't just come from sitting in a classroom," said Bates. "I believe a child's education is enriched by having hands-on experience with museums, cultural events."
Other parents said the current law treats every absent child as a truant and uses legal action to threaten good kids with excused absences.
Eighth grader Dominique Doutre agrees.
"There are educational opportunities along with illnesses that happen outside of school," said Doutre. "Please restore the classic definition of 'truant' and exempt kids with excessive absences from legal action."
Hall County Attorney Mark Young said the law as a whole has good intentions and he doesn't prosecute every case.
He said, "We can continue to modify or improve the process but I wholeheartedly support the idea that we need to keep attendance in school as a priority for all families."
The hearings finished up around noon on February 13.
The committee still needs to meet privately to discuss whether any of the truancy bills today will move forward and lawmakers are not sure when that will be.
