DA, Partners Work to Keep Kids in School, Decrease Suspensions
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School is now back in session and Montgomery leaders are working to keep kids in school and out of trouble.
Montgomery District Attorney Daryl Bailey held a press conference to provide a progress report on the Helping Montgomery Families Initiative. The DA’s office launched the the program in 2008. It’s a partnership with Montgomery public schools, the city and county commission. How it works—Alerts are sent to parents of students with two unexcused absences or suspensions. If behavior does not change then families are notified to get in contact with the DA’s office.
Brenda Owens-Brown, case officer said, “It has very strong verbiage, but when they call my job is to say ‘look we are not about putting anybody in jail, our main goal is to help your child be successful. Even though we do operate under the law, that’s not what we are about. We are about trying to put some things together to help you. Maybe there’s some resources in the community that you don’t know about,’ and then they get it.”
According to the numbers, the program is working. Since the 2012, 2013 school year both suspensions and unexcused absences are down by around 25 percent.
