Truancy: Legislator talks of taking parents’ driver’s licenses

January 14, 2011

January 14, 2011

West Virginia's truancy laws are some of the toughest in the nation - but they

don't seem to be working. Some think a new, even tougher approach may be

necessary.

State Sen. Wells, D-Kanawha, has outlined a plan that is raising eyebrows.

Wells' idea is simple: Parents who allow their children to be truants would lose

their driver's licenses.

A bill proposing the system will be introduced during the legislative session,

Wells said. He explained it would provide that parents of students who have five

unexcused absences from school in a year would be sent letters. They would be

informed that if the unexcused absences reach 10, the student's parents' driving

privileges would be revoked.

Again, the state already allows severe punishment for parents who allow their

children to be truants. Fines and even jail terms can be handed out by

magistrates - but that seldom happens. Clearly magistrates and judges, who are

elected, are reluctant to come down that hard on the parents of truants.

Wells' bill would make revocation of driver's licenses mandatory, giving the

provision real teeth.

Legislators and education leaders agree that something needs to be done to crack

down on truancy. It is a severe problem in our state and throughout the nation.

How serious? One statistic gives an idea of what is at stake. It is that between

two-thirds and three-fourths of the inmates in West Virginia prisons are school

dropouts.

Public education reform is a hot topic in West Virginia - and needs to include

ways to boost attendance and graduation rates as well as to ensure students

benefit from good schools. The best schools possible do no good for children who

are not in class.

While it's doubtful Wells' proposal will be enacted, we do hope his suggestion

at least prompts legislators - along with educators, magistrates and judges - to

find better ways to keep students in class.

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