South Bay : Truant Torrance Students Will Be Cited $57 Under Tougher Law

In the past, the price students at Torrance public schools paid for skipping class was primarily educational--missed lectures, labs and perhaps a failing grade. The new price is 57 bucks.

Under a new anti-truancy ordinance passed this week by the City Council, police officers will be authorized to cite students younger than 18 who are absent from school without a valid excuse.

The ordinance, which came in response to a 1992 state study that found truancy to be a serious social and economic problem across California, will be enforced from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Although the citation will carry a price tag of $57--about what it costs the city to process such a ticket, said Mayor Dee Hardison--the final cost could go higher. Much like a traffic citation, the ticket will order the student and the student’s parents to appear in court, where a hearings officer could levy additional fines.

“Students need to understand the consequences of their actions,” said Hardison, herself a teacher. “And parents need to be involved in their child’s education.”