Social services outlines truancy-mitigation slots, statute requirements and funding mix

Marathon County Social Services presented an update on truancy mitigation, describing statutory responsibilities, the county’s use of attendance correction committees, a contracted truancy-diversion provider (Mirror Image), and the program’s funding sources.

Krista Jensen (Social Services) told the committee that the county focuses on “habitually truant youth” under Wisconsin statute 118 and that schools must notify parents and try interventions before a referral is made. Under statute 118, a student is considered habitually truant after 10 or more unexcused absences in a semester; absences can include being at school but not attending class.

Social Services funds a set of truancy-diversion slots using a mix of sources: the county receives a Department of Children and Families Community Intervention Program (CIP) grant and also uses county tax levy. Jensen said approximately 15% of the truancy-diversion funding comes from the CIP grant and about 75% comes from county levy under the Social Services budget; the remainder is covered by other sources or by schools that purchase additional slots directly.

The county contracts with Mirror Image to operate diversion slots. Jensen said Mirror Image served 49 unduplicated youth in 2024 (with 25 slots in place then) and that the county increased slots in 2024 after reallocating funds previously used for electronic monitoring and drug testing. Current slot allocations listed in the committee packet include: Wausau West (4), John Muir (6), East (4), Horace Mann (6), EAA (1), DC Everest (6), and junior-high slots (8).

Jensen described how schools convene attendance correction committees (ACCs) that involve school staff, social services, and community partners. The ACCs attempt interventions (transportation help, referrals for mental-health or AODA services, family engagement) before the school refers a student to truancy citation court. If interventions fail, the District Attorney’s truancy citation process can impose noncriminal sanctions or other court-ordered conditions; prosecutors and social services emphasized the process is a collaboration led by schools.

Jensen provided counts for court and petition activity: Mirror Image served 49 unduplicated youth in 2024; truancy citation court matters were 109 in 2019, 12 in 2022, 54 in 2023 and 45 in 2024; habitual-truancy petitions handled by Social Services were 15 in 2022, 2 in 2023 and 12 in 2024. Social Services staff said fluctuations reflect the use of ACCs and pandemic-era disruptions.

Committee members asked about rural-school participation and services for students age 18; staff said rural schools may establish their own ACCs and that compulsory attendance generally extends to age 18 under state law, so older students may proceed through citation processes rather than diversion slots.

Ending

Social Services asked the committee to note the statutory responsibilities and existing funding mix and to consider advocacy during the upcoming state budget process if committee members seek increased state funding for court and truancy-related operations.