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The Family Truancy Intervention Program was initiated by Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner to address chronic absenteeism of elementary-age children living in Ramsey County.
The basic tenets of FTIP are:
- Regular school attendance leads to higher academic achievement;
- Education is a basic need for all children;
- Education is the key to a successful future;
- School attendance is mandatory; and
- Parents of children who do not attend school as required by law will be petitioned to court for educational neglect if, despite FTIP's pre-court diversion efforts, attendance does not improve.
Elementary schools may refer any child living in Ramsey County to the program who has been absent three or more days during a school year without lawful excuse. Schools are encouraged to refer children who are chronically tardy or have excessive illness absences.
Since the program's inception in January of 1999, over 8,000 elementary school children and their families have been referred to the program.
