Appleton School District Asks City To Reintroduce Truancy Laws

APPLETON, WI- (WISS) – Skipping school could equal breaking the law once again in Appleton. The Appleton Area School District asked the city to consider reintroducing a truancy law during the Appleton Common Council Meeting on Wednesday (March 19, 2025).

Appleton Superintendent Greg Hartjes made a presentation to the Common Council, saying the district is facing chronic absenteeism. He said last year, over 1000 students missed 18 or more school days. Almost 300 of them missed more than 50 days last year! 

The city did have a truancy law up until 2019. That law required families of truant students to pay fines and attend truancy court. Hartjes said they don’t want to go back to the days of punitive measures.

“We have no interest in punitive measures, other than whatever will get a student to engage,” Hartjes said. “We need something to reach students who currently are, just simply, not coming to school.”

The item on the agenda Wednesday was simply a presentation from the school district. No action was taken on the presentation. If the Appleton Common Council decides to consider a truancy law for the city, it will be discussed and voted on at future Common Council meetings.