Bloomberg To Expand Campaign Against Truancy
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Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Wednesday that his campaign against truancy has improved the attendance of hundreds of students.
The program provides in-school mentors to nearly 1,500 students with histories of chronic absenteeism.
In its first year, Bloomberg said it made a big difference for 450 of the participants. Those students collectively attended 7,000 more days of school.
Speaking at a Bronx high school, the mayor said he plans to double the number of students and schools involved in the initiative.
"The gains that our mentors have made within just one year, I think, prove that we're certainly on the right track, and show that this is a problem that can be overcome, or at least ameliorated," said Bloomberg.
"During these under-resourced times, we need a resource like this for our kids," said mentor Derrick Williams.
The expanded program will also focus on students re-entering school after a long break and those otherwise vulnerable to chronic absenteeism.