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by nataliesolis from KDFW Newsroom

Last Post 37 days, 21 hours Ago


Truancy Troubles
Mar 9, 2008 | 7:39 PM
Category: News
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Hi Everyone, Friday I did a story on mother who received a summons for truancy court because her daughter had 17 absnces from september to january.  The woman's daughter is 17 and moved out from the family home and in with her boyfriend. The mother tried to stop her, but police said the state of Texas a person becomes an adult at the age of 17, therefore there was nothing they could do. Problem is...that's one part of Texas law. The part that governs education says a student becomes an adult at 18, making parents responsible for them another year and that's why the mother was bieng summoned to court.

Is it just me or does this sound like one huge loop hole in the system?! I'm surprised there aren't more parents kicking and screaming when this sort of thing happens, especially when fines for truancy range from $120-$500 per day.  The mother in our story is devastated that her daugther left home and isn't taking her education seriously, but at the same time, she doesn't understand how the state can hold her accountable when it doesn't give her any authority after the child turns 17. Go figure!

***Part of the reason I bring this story up again is there's one other piece of information that didn't make it into the story. (Often we reporters learn a ton about a topic, but you can only squeeze so much into 1min30sec.) The mother says the school her daughter attended told her she could not see her daughters school record. The mother was of course trying to find out if her daughter was in school. According to the Texas Education Agency, a parent can access their child's file until the child's 18th birthday. So there you have it.

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Studley read my blog
Mar 10, 2008 | 7:27 AM

It sounds like there has not been enough action in the Judicial System to allow a court to rule the law as unconstitutional because of the age variances. Then the Legislature would have to align the age limits to make this work.

Of course, that process takes time, which the folks who are involved do not have, and when it is all over, it becomes a moot point for them anyway, since the children exceed the age ranges.
terrellmom read my blog view my photos
Mar 10, 2008 | 7:47 AM

I saw this segment on the news and it's an outrage that this is even possible. If the mother is responsible for the kid going to school she should be legally able to make that girl come home. Maybe she can teach her a lesson and give her parantel rights over to cps for the next year. I've seen kids that have "divorced" their parents...the mother should divorce this girl. Wish the story of the girl was looked into more. My bet, she's on drugs and likes many different boyfrieds. Not the kinda girl you see as a sunday school aid. Just my guess.lol
moankie82 read my blog
Mar 10, 2008 | 8:13 AM

I agree with tm. I want to know what is really at the bottom of it.
luvmykid read my blog
Mar 10, 2008 | 8:59 AM

The sad part of all of this is that the schools and law officials are more than glad to "scare" a kid by letting them know that at the age of 17 they are considered adults and can be treated as such.

Not all teachers and ed. officials or police, know about the 2 different laws.
Same thing happened to my sister and did not find this out until talking to DISD.

It is up to the judge whether he wants to hold the parent responsible or not. In the schools, if a parent calls the school and lets them know that the kid has ran away and has a police report, there is no way, legally, that the parent can be held responsible.

If someone is being told otherwise, then they need to look further into it. (atleast, that is what they told my sister.) She had problems with her son, so, I told her to make sure she always called the police and made a runaway report and then called the schools and let them know. She never had problems after that.

He is now 18 and has fines that he was ordered to pay ON HIS OWN, by a judge that did not hold my sister responsible for following the law.
scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Mar 10, 2008 | 9:07 AM

I just don't see the judge ordering the mother to pay a cent given the circumstances you've described, Natalie. I'd have a camera crew in that couthouse when she went just to let that judge know people were watching and were interested.

The bigger tragedy is that a mere kid is now an adult and out on her own with her "boyfriend." Yeah, like that's going to last.
UCantHandleThisTruth read my blog
Mar 10, 2008 | 10:42 AM

Wow!
Scott, thats quite a charge to level at Natsolis.

I trust you more than Fox4 reporting so please do tell.
UCantHandleThisTruth read my blog
Mar 10, 2008 | 10:44 AM

As far as the loophole in the law.

While the news media is busy covering Brittney and crew they could be using their resources to scour the lawmakers mistakes.

At least they still show SOME INTEREST in reporting the news
Tam23 read my blog view my photos
Mar 10, 2008 | 1:27 PM

luvmykid, the only thing wrong with her calling the child in as a run away, to cover her butt is that the child is 17 now, she's not considered a "run away" at 17 bc she can legally leave home...what do you do next?? My mom went through this with my sister and surprisingly the judge in Mesquite did not hold my mother accountable... what a tricky situation... however, my mother did let the school know that the 17 year old “adult” no longer lived at home.
scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Mar 10, 2008 | 2:33 PM

Well, UCHTT, I am not being critical here. I just know know that charging someone and then convicting them is another thing. And for all we know there is more to the story as well (as Natalie suggests). How do we know for SURE the mother isn't complicit? She may say she isn't...but is she? I don't know and don't stake a claim to know. But I do know that other people will be looking into the matter aside from the people responsible for charging her. I hope the lady gets out of it completely if indeed she is innocent. By the way, at last I knew, anyone was welcome to sit in on truancy court but retracting what I said previously, I doubt a camera would be allowed in because of the underage people inside.

I agree on covering lawmakers a lot more, UCHTT. Too much time is devoted to mundane things, flashy stories to keep us interested and the like.
cowboyswife58 read my blog view my photos
Mar 10, 2008 | 4:29 PM

None of this makes a lick of sense to me!
If the girl is'nt even responsible enough to attend her classes then how in the heck can she be responsible enough to live on her own with some guy? Wonder how old the guy is? They should let Mom have a good old fashion rearend kicking with that girl.
TexasTruBlu read my blog view my photos
Mar 10, 2008 | 6:15 PM

Hey, why don't we stop the silliness and when kids choose to skip out of school at this rate, tell them to leave, that they can't come back and that they are on their own. I am tired to death of trying educate kids who don't want to be there. They disrupt classes, cause problems and create more paperwork than they are often worth. So if she's 17 and wants out, fine. But don't let her back in, no matter what.
scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Mar 10, 2008 | 8:01 PM

I hear ya, TruBlu. What used to be called "tough love" is now called child abuse. Go figure. One has to be careful anymore. Kids are out of control these days and I know you have a tough job.
moankie82 read my blog
Mar 11, 2008 | 8:08 AM

The mother should not be responsible for an idiot child. There needs to be one standard age for adulthood. While some parents are wothless, good parents can have a worhless kid through no fault of their own.
luvmykid read my blog
Mar 11, 2008 | 9:05 AM

I understand what you are saying, Tam.

But, my sister was told that so long as he was "enrolled" in school, and caught "skipping", he was still considered a "minor".

That is all she had to mention to the police when making the runaway report. (that the boy was still enrolled in school and for truancy purposes was told by the schools that she had to have a runaway report to give to the school)

I know, it is silly to have 2 different laws for these kids.
scottythecomic read my blog view my photos
Mar 11, 2008 | 9:31 AM

I am looking forward to the results, Natalie. Please keep us posted.
moankie82 read my blog
Mar 11, 2008 | 11:45 AM

I would like updates also.
nataliesolis read my blog view my photos
Mar 11, 2008 | 10:25 PM

Hi Everyone,

I've been off the last couple of days and as luck would have it, I think I may be getting sick again!! I'm hoping it's just allergies, but we'll see...got watery eyes, keep sneezing. I wish I could just shake whatever it is.

And to top it off, my car was making a weird noise so I took it in to the shop and it took all day to get it fixed. And then...$500 later...it still isn't working as it should.

Don't worry, I'm not throwing a pitty party for myself...just explaining why I haven't been on my computer much recenlty. I am really glad to see bloggers are interested in this topic.

I know scottythecomic is interested in knowing how the judges ruling.
We won't know for a while, the court date is late april...but I think we know how it will go.

As I reported on Friday...but didn't put in the blog (sorry bout that)...the mother had to write a letter explaining her situation. She then had to get the district to sign off on it so she can present it court. The district says this typically satisfies the judge and the mother shouldn't face any fines. But regardless of the fines, it still doesn't fix the incongruencies in the law, as many of you pointed out.

And I know many of you are wondering about the girl and her family. In talking to the mother, and visiting them at their home, I can say they seemed like a pretty solid family. Mom and dad are married. There's only one other younger child. The daughter in question had been involved in competitive cheer, and competitive dance. Then two years ago she met an older boy (21yrs old I believe) and m
nataliesolis read my blog view my photos
Mar 11, 2008 | 10:51 PM

As I was saying...mom says that was it from there, she lost control. I talked to the daughter on the phone. She sounded sweet and well-spoken. She says she doesn't think her mom should be fined and she says she helped her mom get the letter she needs for court. She also says she is working on getting her GED.

Hope that helps fill in some blanks
moankie82 read my blog
Mar 12, 2008 | 7:24 AM

Maybe her stupid daughter will get married. I think that cancels all age requirements.
moankie82 read my blog
Mar 12, 2008 | 7:24 AM

But i guess if shes stupid enough to drop out of school, she is to stupid to do that even.
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nataliesolis

Hello Everyone. I have the honor of co-anchoring the weekend news with Richard Ray and I report three days a week. I truly love what I do and I think this is a wonderful opportunity for us to get to know each other better. A couple of factoids about me...Dancing is a passion of mine, right next to eating good food, traveling and spending time with my family.

Member Since: 3/7/2007


 

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