BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - State and local education leaders gathered in Baton Rouge on Wednesday, Sept. 17, as they work to tackle one of Louisiana’s biggest challenges in education, truancy.

Truancy is defined as five unexcused absences or tardies in a semester. According to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, the statewide truancy rate is 42%. In East Baton Rouge Parish, the four-year average is higher, at 55%.

BESE board member Ronnie Morris said the numbers are too high to ignore.

“If we want to continue progressing, we have to address this issue,” Morris said.

The meeting centered on strategies to curb truancy and create long-term solutions. East Baton Rouge Parish Superintendent LaMont Cole said the goal is to help families before the court system or law enforc

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