>>Martinsville Parents of Chronically Absent Students Could Face Jail Time
(Martinsville, VA) -- A city in Henry County adds potential jail time for parents of chronically absent students. Richard Stelling with more.Preview: Voicer Script:
Martinsville public schools and the city’s commonwealth’s attorney have announced a stricter approach to combat chronic absenteeism. The change aims to address the issue of chronic absenteeism, which has been a concern in the city. The new policy has parents now facing a Class 1 misdemeanor charge for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, carrying a fine of up to $2,500 and potential jail time if their child is determined to be chronically absent. The city's chronic absenteeism rate dropped to about 18% for the 2022-2023 school year, in line with the state average.