Right Track Truancy Reduction Program 
"Students with the highest truancy rates have the lowest academic achievement rates, and because truants are the youth most likely to drop out of school, they have high drop-out rates as well."
 U.S. Department of Justice
It’s a fact:
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75% of all truants will eventually drop out of school
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Truancy has been clearly defined as one of the early warning signs that youth are headed for educational failure
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75% of our nation’s incarcerated criminals were habitual truants
Right Track is a collaborative program developed since 2001 by Project Success in cooperation with local schools, law enforcement, service providers, judges, and the IL Attorney General’s office. This comprehensive program is coordinated by Project Success in cooperation with the Macon-Piatt Regional Office of Education and Decatur Public Schools.
How does it work?
Right Track is designed to affect the student’s truancy through the parent. It seeks to decrease chronic truancy and keep children in school by:
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Focusing on support services for the family
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Focusing on parent accountability and responsibility to keep children in school
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Educating parents about truancy laws in Illinois and the consequences of non-compliance
Right Track provides intervention and service linkage for students with 5 or more unexcused absences. Family Liaisons in each school provide casework follow up for each student including home visits and linkage to social services. Parent meetings educate parents as to their obligation under the law and state/local attendance policies. Since its inception as a pilot program at one middle school in the spring of 2001, the program has grown each year. During the 2008-2009 school year, at the request of Decatur Public Schools, it expanded to include all 16 Decatur Public Elementary schools - including three K-8 magnet schools.
The Right Track benefits?
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The Child receives the education he needs and deserves
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The Family is offered social service assistance to address the issues at the root of the truancy
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The School District realizes increased state funding based on average daily attendance and a decreased likelihood of students dropping out
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The Community benefits from long term reductions in crime and violence
Right Track is working to help keep children in school!
- During the 2007-2008 school year, 89% of the 391 elementary students and 74% of the 343 middle school students who were referred to Right Track significantly improved their attendance.
- Since the program's inception in 2002, 86% of the 2,006 elementary students and 72% of the 2,574 middle school students referred for truancy intervention have significantly improved their attendance.
"The Right Track attendance initiative has been a valuable resource for Decatur Public Schools in our effort to instill the importance of regular attendance in school success!"
Elementary Principal - Decatur Public Schools
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