Each school day in the United States, hundreds of thousands of students are missing from their classrooms — many without a bona fide excuse.

Not only does a lack of attendance risk school finances, left unchecked, truancy is a risk factor for serious juvenile delinquency. Truancy’s impact also extends into the adult years where it has been linked to numerous negative outcomes.

Consequently, the U.S. Department of Justice says it’s critical to identify strategies that intervene effectively with youth who are chronically truant and that interrupt their progress to delinquency and other negative behaviors by addressing the underlying reasons behind their absence from school.

The Koochiching County Children’s Justice Initiative does just that. Kudos to the Ninth Judicial District, Koochiching County Attorney’s Office and county Community Services for defining the issue and for developing a truancy policy that is being presented in schools within Koochiching County.

The initiative offers a policy and a contract between the student, parents and, school official which defines truancy and lays out its consequences.

The policy may be implemented in the 2011-12 school year, pending input and approval from local school boards.

This is not just a matter of a day away from school now and then. The law requires that the school notify the county Attorney’s Office when a student has seven or more unexcused absences. And this is a serious issue. Truancy has been found to be related to substance abuse, gang activity, and involvement in criminal activities such as burglary, auto theft, and vandalism, so it only makes sense to hold school officials, parents and students accountable.

Understanding those correlations, truancy is considered a criminal offense for a parent or guardian, punishable with up to 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine.

But the mission behind the initiative is not to punish truant students and their parents. Instead, it is intended to encourage academic success and social benefits, while at the same time establishing regular habits important in the real world. The policy’s goal is to encourage regular attendance at school and, if necessary, order compulsory attendance.

Clearly, truancy has far reaching implications for not only the absent student and their parents, but also for society as a whole. The initiative is shining a light on an issue that must be addressed locally.