Did you know that missing just 10% of the school year in 6th grade is strongly linked to academic course failure and even eventually dropping out of high school? That’s just 18 days — or two to three days per month (attendanceworks.org).

The Truancy Intervention Project or “TIP” strives to decrease chronic absenteeism by pairing trained volunteers with children and their families to provide them with the advocacy, resources and services necessary to ensure good attendance and success in school.

Originating in Fulton County, TIP provides resources and intervention services to children who are chronically absent from school and, as a result, either become involved with the local juvenile court or are referred for early intervention at the school level.

Since its inception, TIP has served over 10,500 children.  An impressive 6,040 children did not return to the Juvenile Court since their involvement with the project.  This represents an overall 85.8% success rate.  More than 2,000 trained volunteers throughout the state, both attorneys and non-attorneys have given their time and talent to help these children. 

Since school failure plagues communities all across the nation, TIP Georgia has begun to share its model with other jurisdictions inside and outside the state to assist in the reduction of chronic absenteeism.

Every school day counts, and everyone can make a difference. Join us!

If you would like to learn more about how you can positively influence at-risk youth of Georgia or explore the applicability of the TIP model in your community, please visit our volunteer area.