Truancy Reduction Program

Program Overview

Maryland’s Truancy Reduction Court Program was first implemented during the 2001 school year. In 2004, the General Assembly created the Truancy Reduction Pilot Program to serve the needs of students and families within the Maryland’s First Judicial Circuit. Truancy Reduction Court was created to combat the large number of youth whom were truant during the school year. It has been noted that truant behavior is commonly linked to other forms of delinquency, leading to negative contact with law enforcement and eventually incarceration.

The Truancy Reduction Program seeks to improve attendance and enhance achievement of students who have been adjudicated truant. The program in Kent County started with District Court in 2013. The program was transferred to Circuit Court in 2014 as a Problem-Solving Court and continues to operate in that capacity.