Project SKIP
SKIP is a prevention/early intervention program designed to help
lower-level truants. Truant students come before a panel of their peers who
review truancy cases referred by the District Attorney's Office. Project
SKIP concurrently offers a "hands-on" experience in the legal system to
youth volunteers.
What happens at a hearing?
During a hearing, referred youth come before a panel of their peers to
explain their truant behavior. Truancy review panels question truant
students and attempt to identify solutions to their truant behavior. Panel
members assign services to each truant student based upon specific case
circumstances and severity of the truancy. Services typically imposed:
- participation in school activities
- essays
- educational classes
- tutoring
- attendance monitoring
- academic monitoring
What happens when the truant youth successfully completes Project SKIP?
If the truant youth completes all assigned services within the 90 day
timeframe, the case will be closed successfully. The District Attorney's
Office and School Administration will be informed and the truant youth will
not have a Child In Need of Care petition filed.
What are the benefits of Project SKIP?
Project SKIP hears truancy cases quickly so that youth can get the help and
services they need in order to be successful in school, avoid future
truancy, and prevent school dropout while concurrently providing a learning
experience for volunteers who serve as panel members.
If you are interested in volunteering or for more information, e-mail
Jacey.Ruhnke@jocogov.org
or call (913) 715-7467.
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Johnson County Court Services