Evaluation of a truancy diversion program at nine at-risk middle schools

Authors

Courtney Marie Haight, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Gillian V. Chapman, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Marisa Charlene Hendron, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Rachel Marie Loftis, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Christopher A. Kearney, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Department of PsychologyFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2014

Publication Title

Psychology in the Schools

Volume

51

Issue

7

First page number:

779

Last page number:

787

Abstract

Many schools are faced with the prospect of soaring absenteeism rates, despite the use of traditional truancy courts and other legal interventions. A recent trend in the literature has been to explore alternative, hybrid, and multidisciplinary approaches to address the underlying obstacles to school attendance. These programs are often integrated into schools to reduce stigma and transportation burdens on families. The present study involved an evaluation of a truancy diversion program in nine at-risk middle schools in an ethnically diverse sample. Graduates from the program demonstrated significant declines in internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. In addition, participants and their parents expressed high levels of perceived improvement in academic performance. Academic tutoring was found to differentiate program graduates from non graduates Results are preliminary but discussed within the context of the role of school attachment in truancy diversion programs.

Disciplines

Behavioral Disciplines and Activities | Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Medicine and Health Sciences | Psychiatry and Psychology | Psychological Phenomena and Processes

Language

English

Permissions

Use Find in Your Library, contact the author, or interlibrary loan to garner a copy of the item. Publisher policy does not allow archiving the final published version. If a post-print (author's peer-reviewed manuscript) is allowed and available, or publisher policy changes, the item will be deposited.

Repository Citation

Haight, C. M., Chapman, G. V., Hendron, M. C., Loftis, R. M., Kearney, C. A. (2014). Evaluation of a truancy diversion program at nine at-risk middle schools. Psychology in the Schools, 51(7), 779-787.