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Almost 15 years ago, long before her numerous political accomplishments, Kamala Harris was widely known as San Francisco’s attorney general. During her time in this position, she sponsored a controversial law that enabled district attorneys to charge parents with a misdemeanor if their children missed at least 10% of school days in a year.
However, since then, the approach to chronic absenteeism has drastically changed, leaning away from punitive measures and towards more compassionate strategies. Even Harris has distanced herself from the law she once supported, showcasing the significant shift in perspectives on this matter.
The Legislation: In 2011, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 1317 into law, which permitted the prosecution of parents for chronic absenteeism. The law advocated for penalties such as fines up to $2,000 or one year of imprisonment. Harris was dedicated to combating truancy through initiatives like this one.
Research demonstrates the detrimental consequences of chronic absenteeism, including poor academic performance, low graduation rates, and an increased likelihood of involvement in criminal activities. Harris acknowledged the link between absenteeism and crime during her tenure as a district attorney.
On a recent episode of The New York Times’ The Daily podcast, Harris’ law enforcement approach to addressing the root causes of chronic absenteeism was discussed.
The Impact: Although Harris claims to have prosecuted only 25 parents under this law without any resulting imprisonments, other California areas implemented more severe measures, leading to unjust arrests of parents, like the case involving a child with sickle cell anemia.
During her 2020 presidential campaign, Harris expressed remorse over the unintended consequences of the law. Her emphasis on student attendance, however, shed light on chronic absenteeism as a critical issue.
Legal professionals note that Harris significantly influenced the field by prioritizing chronic absenteeism as a key performance metric for evaluating schools post-SB 1317.
The New Approach: In the aftermath of SB 1317, districts have shifted away from punitive actions due to their ineffectiveness. Instead, they focus on communication and trust-building practices like home visits, creating welcoming school environments, and providing resources to families in need, such as bus passes or backpacks.
In light of the post-pandemic educational landscape marked by a surge in chronic absenteeism, effective strategies to enhance attendance are crucial. While progress has been made, the road ahead remains challenging as schools work to improve attendance rates amid ongoing crises.
What We’re Writing
- As schools resume in-person sessions, we’re closely monitoring key stories in education for the upcoming year.
- A recent report from the U.S. Department of Education scrutinizes San Diego Unified’s handling of sexual harassment and assault cases, highlighting areas of non-compliance with federal laws on sex-based discrimination.
- We delve into a bill recently signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, focusing on LGBTQ+ issues in schools and its potential impact on educational policies.
