Photo: CBS 12
A South Florida school district is working to lower the amount of truancy happening among students.
Palm Beach County's chief of equity and wellness Keith Oswald cites Florida Department of Education data that shows over 16 percent of students in county public schools were considered chronically absent during a recent academic year. They missed 21 or more days.
"We want kids to graduate with a great GPA that they're really ripe for post-secondary success. And to do that we need the kids in everyday."
That's why Oswald tells CBS 12 News that the school district is hiring consulting firm Aly Solutions Inc. to work with the schools, students and parents in an effort to bring those numbers down.
"They're going to make sure that the issues that arise from a family unit and that things that come up that we're following through on what the judge is saying needs to happen."
The $75,000 contract with the consultant is being funded by a grant from the education foundation of Palm Beach County.