Jail time is last option for parents of truants.

In Philadelphia, parents of truant children could become jailbirds. A year after implementing a program to hire Parent Truant Officers, or PTO's, who inform parents about truancy, the head judge of Family Court vows to imprison some parents to ensure students go to class.

"Make no mistake about it, I am certain that this year parents will be going to jail who do not cooperate," Judge Myrna Field stated in a news conference at family court.

Up to 15,000 students in the city are absent on any given day without an excuse. Even though school officials say prison would be a last-ditch effort, other parent groups oppose the new plan.

Veronica Joyner, president of Parents United for Better Schools, and Pat Raymond, president of the Philadelphia Home and School Council, agree that parents of truants need help. Both say truants may have valid masons for missing school, including: being teased about their clothes or sneakers; lack of money for bus tokens to get to school; the fear of being bullied, hurt or even raped. "Kids don't see schools as a safe haven anymore," says Joyner, also founder and chief administrative officer of a charter school.

School officials say jail would come after a long process, including continual support through the newly established Family Help Center, which will help the district and court better coordinate anti-truancy efforts and help families who am referred to court.

If students have one to three unexcused absences, parents are called and sent a letter notifying them, says Delia Reveron, the district's director of attendance and truancy officer.

With three to seven unexcused absences, PTO's will visit homes to speak with parents. PTO's, who are hired by faith and community-based partners, will connect them to proper resources, such as heating companies and food assistance plans.

Students with eight to 10 unexcused absences will face, along with parents, the district's Saturday Morning Alternative Reach and Teach Program, a life-skills workshop teaching such tips as anger management. With more than 10 unexcused absences, students could be held back.

With eight to 24 unexcused absences, students are referred to the city Department of Human Services' Office of Truancy Prevention, if they weren't called already, to help. At 25 unexcused absences, students go before a school-based truancy court where the city's truancy prevention office and family court try to solve the continuing problem.

If all else fails, the case goes to family court where charges are considered. A judge could put students in a sort-of boot camp or imprison a parent for up to five days for failing to comply with court orders.

www.philsch.k12.pa.us