A pilot program aimed at reducing middle school truancy in Caddo Parish has reported a significant decrease in absenteeism rates at eight participating schools during the 2025-26 school year, according to Caddo District Attorney James Stewart.

Program Details

The program, which was launched in partnership with Caddo Public Schools Superintendent Keith Burton and Volunteers for Youth Justice, focused on increasing direct intervention with students at the school level to address rising truancy rates following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stewart emphasized the importance of intervening during the middle school years to help steer students away from crime and other risky behaviors, stating, “In these perilous times, middle school now is the time we have to grab our young people and direct them away from the pitfalls of crime, guns, gangs, vaping marijuana, bullying, cell phone addiction, pornography and even pregnancy.”

The eight participating schools all reported lower percentages of truant students compared to the previous school year. Notable decreases include Broadmoor Middle School’s truancy rate falling from 56% to 39%, Caddo Middle Career and Technology School dropping from 69% to 33%, and Lanier Middle School declining from 46% to 13%.

Broader Impact

Stewart noted that the effort is part of a broader strategy to intervene with students during the middle school years and help them avoid crime and other risky behaviors. He also reported a decline in the number of juveniles on probation, from previous highs of about 650 to 406, with 55 juveniles currently on ankle monitors.

The district attorney’s office also reported a significant decrease in the population of the parish’s 24-bed pretrial juvenile detention center, with only six juveniles currently being held. Stewart attributed these results to the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including school superintendents, juvenile judges, and probation staff.

Based on the pilot program’s success, all K-8 schools in Caddo Parish will participate in the truancy initiative during the 2026-27 school year. Stewart expressed his appreciation for the collaborative efforts, stating, “Kudos to all, and let’s keep the momentum into the next school year.”

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.