Why Mediation?

The truancy mediation program allows you to settle truancy problems without going to court

Benefits of Mediation:

INFORMAL

FREE

CONFIDENTIAL

PROVEN EFFECTIVE

IMPROVES COMMUNICATION BETWEEN FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS

ALLOWS THE FAMILY TO INPUT ITS OWN SOLUTION TO THE

ATTENDANCE PROBLEM

CAN PREVENT FUTURE COURT PROCEEDINGS

What is Truancy Mediation?

Truancy mediation consists of an informal meeting where parents/caregivers, students, and schools come together with a mediator to talk about the causes of truancy.  Everyone works to find a fair and workable solution to the student’s truancy problem.

The mediator is

A neutral person who does NOT take sides.  His/her role is to make sure everyone has an opportunity to speak, that all sides understand each other, and that both families and schools work together to resolve issues. Truancy Mediation is NOT about winning or losing.  It is about giving parents & caregivers the opportunity to get more involved in their children’s education.  It is also about giving the student an opportunity to actively participate in planning his/her educational future.

How Does Mediation Work?

Parents/caregivers, students, teachers, counselors, and others that are involved with the student’s education meet privately with the mediator.  The mediator will set some basic rules and then each side will speak.  Parties will be asked to listen closely to what is being said.  It is important that everyone understand the issues involved and each other’s points of view.

The mediator will identify and summarize the issues that are being addressed.  All sides will be allowed to conclude, and then each person will be asked to come up with possible solutions.

 All sides will share their ideas to create an agreement; then all involved must commit to being responsible for making the agreement work.

S.M.A.R.T.

S.M.A.R.T. is a collaborative effort between our public schools, our Juvenile and District Court Systems of the 22nd Judicial District, our Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, and Piedmont Mediation Center, Inc.

 You and your family can work together with people in the school, to address the root causes of an attendance problem.  Research shows that the combination of mediation, community support and connecting to helpful people in the schools has greatly reduced truancy

Additional Benefits and Outcomes:

• Helps students to achieve a higher level of self-worth and a sense of accomplishment

• Facilitates better communications within families and builds partnerships between families and schools

• Provides schools with an alternative method for reducing poor attendance

• Provides a model of communication that is positive, respectful, and honest

• Breaks down misunderstandings and builds a sense of respect and openness among parties

• Focuses on making education a positive experience

• Identifies steps for making changes

• Acknowledged by educators and courts as an effective tool

School Mediation Actively Reducing Truancy