Staff Reports
Gavin Newsom has just thrown a wrench into the punitive machinery put in place by Kamala Harris when she was California’s attorney general. As part of the state’s ongoing struggle with education, Newsom recently signed a bill that effectively abolishes the previous approach that saw parents dragged into court for their children’s truancy. Apparently, the governor has finally come around to the idea that penalizing parents isn’t the best way to encourage kids to attend school.
The new legislation, SB-691, was spearheaded by State Senator Anthony Portantino. This bill reshapes the way school districts handle truancy by turning away from threats and intimidation, instead advocating for parental involvement. Rather than warning parents they could face prosecution if their kids don’t show up to class, schools are now encouraged to inform them of supportive resources and even suggest they attend class alongside their children. What a novel concept—working with families instead of demonizing them.
Gavin Newsom Reverses Kamala Harris-Promoted Truancy Prosecutions Against Parents https://t.co/5kYcGKnjxj
— Fearless45 (@Fearless45Trump) September 30, 2024
In a stark departure from Harris’ former tactics, which included menacing letters and the specter of jail time for parents, the new law focuses on providing parents with helpful information rather than legal threats. This has left some to wonder what happened to Harris’ aggressive, fear-based tactics that she once touted as effective in tackling truancy in her time as district attorney. While she celebrated a drop in truancy rates back in the day, many are left questioning whether that was truly an achievement or just a shallow victory achieved at the expense of families.
Portantino’s reasoning is as straightforward as it is refreshing: treating parents like criminals isn’t the way to improve school attendance. It seems like a no-brainer that working collaboratively with parents yields better results than sending them to the slammer for their kids’ absences. Harris may have seen her approach as “tough love,” but the law’s new direction underscores a growing recognition that supportive measures may actually get kids to show up for class.
Perhaps the most troublesome aspect of Harris’ original strategy was the impact it had on families already facing hardships. One mother’s experience, highlighted in discussions surrounding this bill, illustrates the heavy burden placed on families. Fighting truancy charges in criminal court instead of seeking help from truancy court is just one example of the “unintended consequences” Harris later acknowledged in her regret over the punitive measures.
With this reversal, California seems to be inching toward a more sensible approach to education and familial involvement. This is a significant win for parents who are tired of being treated like potential criminals instead of collaborators in their children’s education. As the state moves forward, it remains to be seen if these supportive measures will indeed replace the old, heavy-handed approach or if there will be further attempts to revive the harsh tactics of the past. Either way, one thing is clear: it’s about time parenting was viewed as a partnership with schools, not a battleground.
