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Mom faces jail time for truancy
Posted: 02.03.2011 at 10:15 AM
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CHEBOYGAN -- A mom in Cheboygan could soon be heading to jail for not sending her child to school.
Jennifer Specht, 30, is charged with one count of Truancy. Specht pleaded guilty Wednesday to the charge and faces up to 90 days in jail when she is sentenced on February 25.
A student is considered truant when he or she has 10 or more incidents of unexcused absence. An unexcused absence is defined by local school board policy.
The Michigan Truancy Law states: School attendance at a public school for the entire school year is mandatory for students between the ages of six and sixteen in Michigan, unless other qualified educational arrangements are made. 1895 P.A. No. 95, as amended, MCL 380.1561. Failure to comply with compulsory education can subject a person to criminal prosecution and if convicted to not less than two days nor more than 90 days in jail or a fine of not more than $50.00, or both. Also, an educational neglect petition in family court can be filed, MCI 380.1561, 380.1599, 712A.2.
Specht is one parent facing the charges in a school district that had 27 truancy cases in the 2009-2010 school year.
While researching this story Thursday the number of truancy cases across Northern Michigan was quite surprising. See how your district rates for truancy cases in the 2009-2010 school year below:
| SCHOOL DISTRICT | TRUANCY CASES 2009-2010 SCHOOL YEAR |
| Alpena Public Schools | 344 |
| Bear Lake School | 0 |
| Bellaire Schools | 27 |
| Big Rapids Public Schools | 208 |
| Boyne City Public Schools | 9 |
| Cadillac Area Public Schools | 59 |
| Central Lake Public Schools | 19 |
| Charlevoix Public Schools | 3 |
| Cheboygan Public Schools | 27 |
| Clare Public Schools | 22 |
| Crawford - Ausable Public Schools | 93 |
| East Jordan Schools | 4 |
| Ellsworth Community Schools | 4 |
| Elk Rapids Public Schools | 27 |
| Evart Public Schools | 65 |
| Farwell | 35 |
| Gaylord Public Schools | 117 |
| Glen Lake Schools | 11 |
| Harrison Community Schools | 185 |
| Inland Lakes | 77 |
| Kaleva Norman Dickson | 12 |
Kingsley
Leland Public Schools | 31
52 |
| Ludington Area Schools | 131 |
| Mancelona Public Schools | 23 |
| Manistee Public Schools | 36 |
| Manton Consolidated Schools | 169 |
| Mason Co. Central Schools | 125 |
| Mason Co. Eastern Schools | 17 |
| Marion Public Schools | 16 |
| Mt. Pleasant Schools | 170 |
| Northport Public Schools | 10 |
| Petoskey Public Schools | 12 |
| Pine River Area Schools | 86 |
| Reed City Public Schools | 48 |
| Roscommon Area Public Schools | 111 |
| Rudyard Schools | 26 |
| Sault Ste. Marie Public Schools | 352 |
| Suttons Bay Schools | 24 |
| Traverse City Area Public Schools | 221 |
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You can find a complete list of truancy numbers for school districts across the state HERE.
Truancy can have a wide reaching impact on a student and the community. To see the causes and effects of truancy CLICK HERE.
To view the Truancy Prevention Program information for Grand Traverse County CLICK HERE.
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