Kent County High School senior Kendra Johnson, who missed 45 days of school during her final year, successfully graduated with the help of the Kent County Truancy Reduction Program. The program is designed to assist students in meeting their educational requirements.
"The truancy court helped me speed up the process of graduating," Johnson stated. "My school helped me enter the home-hospital program, which allowed me to catch up on my school work at a local library and the court provided me the extra motivation to graduate."
The initiative's mission is to enhance attendance rates and foster a positive attitude towards education through supportive measures that aim to strengthen relationships among families, schools, and the court system. Retired Judge Karen A. Murphy Jensen explained, “Hopefully, through this program, we are able to uncover problems before they reach a boiling point that may result in a child appearing in juvenile court or dropping out of school.”
Participants in the program attend monthly sessions at Kent County Circuit Court, where Judge Jensen reviews their progress and connects them with community resources. Judge Jensen noted the collaboration with various partners: “The Kent County Board of Education has been a key partner with this program,” she said. “We have also partnered with the Department of Juvenile Services in a few cases and other local organizations, which are helping us resolve issues that create barriers to regular school attendance.”
On July 20, during a ceremony held at Kent County Circuit Court, Johnson was awarded both her certificate for completing the truancy program and her high school diploma.
Since its inception in 2014, over 100 students have participated in the Kent County Truancy Reduction Program.