SANTA CRUZ NOW HAS THE DUBIOUS DISTINCTION OF RANKING 3RD AMONG THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE WITH THE HIGHEST RATE OF STUDENT TRUANCY. THAT IMPACTS NOT ONLY THE AMOUNT OF ATTENDANCE-BASED FUNDING EACH SCHOOL RECEIVES, BUT THE STUDENT’S LEVEL OF EDUCATION, AND POSSIBLY THEIR WHOLE LIFE. DROPOUTS HAVE COST THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA MORE THAN 46 BILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY IN INCARCERATION COSTS, LOST TAXES, AND LOST PRODUCTIVITY.
Under California state law, students who miss school (or are more than 30 minutes late, without a valid excuse) 3 times during the school year, are considered truants.
