__________________________________________Ask the DA
 

My sister took her children out of school for a two-week vacation.  As a result, she has been notified by the school that a 407 form is being processed, and she must meet with the school’s attendance and guidance teachers.  Did my sister do something wrong? What is a 407?

The New York State Education Law, Section 3205, states that “all children in New York State between the ages of six and sixteen years in proper physical and mental condition must receive full-time instruction in public private or parochial schools, or at home” while New York City regulations mandate attendance through age seventeen.  A 407 form is issued by the New York City Department of Education (DOE) when students are absent from school for an unreasonable period of time with no legitimate excuse. The DOE and private schools consider the tracking of student attendance to be one of their most important responsibilities, as it relates directly to the safety, welfare and educational success of our children. Excessive absences can result in the filing of a complaint with the Administration for Children’s Services, and ultimately a Family Court judge may decide whether a child should be removed from a home for educational neglect.

As Brooklyn District Attorney, I recognized early on the role that truancy can play as a gateway to future criminal behavior.  As a result, in 1998 my Office created and continues to oversee TRACK (Truancy Reduction Alliance to Contact Kids), a comprehensive collaboration between the Kings County District Attorney’s Office, the New York City Police Department and the Board of Education.

Parents should instill in their children the importance of attending school on a regular basis.  If children are taught at a young age that attending school is a priority, they will be much more inclined to attend and stay in school when they are older.  When a parent takes a young child out of school during the school session, whether for a family vacation or simply because it is more convenient to keep the child home on a given day, that parent is sending the message that school is not a priority.  Later on, when the child becomes a teenager, that lesson has been well learned. Far too many of our high school students are habitual truants who get into trouble or are victimized themselves while out on the streets during school hours.

Parents should remember that children who are academically deprived may face severe limitations in the future.  Working together with our schools to ensure our children’s education is the key to raising happy, healthy adults who can enjoy the freedom to achieve whatever goals they set for themselves.  Teach your children that school is a priority. Send them to school, and give them the tools they need to succeed.

For more information please visit the office’s Web site at www.brooklynda.org. To have your questions answered in a future column, send them to asktheda@brooklynda.org.