16 schools added to truancy effort

City attorneys expanded a 5-year-old anti-truancy program Wednesday, adding 16 elementary school campuses to the existing 30-school initiative.

To date, the program has counseled about 25,000 families of students at Los Angeles Unified School District middle schools who were at risk of dropping out, officials said. In each case the student was frequently or chronically absent, or exhibited social and academic difficulties.

Under the initiative, attorneys are authorized to file misdemeanor charges against parents of students who fail to improve their attendance.

Roughly 90% of students return to class after counseling, according to City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo. Lawyers have prosecuted 18 parents. Two city attorney employees will work with the new campuses.

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-- Jason Song