Washington Post "Schools shouldn't fine tardy students and parents"

Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary examined the trend of levying fines on parents whose children are tardy for school. She gives examples from Chicago, Virginia and Los Angeles. In one case, a Virginia mother was arrested for her children's tardiness. Many of the families are low-income and the fine is not simply a matter of money.

She quotes CRC Lead Organizer, Manuel Criollo, "Fine-based tickets have a real negative impact on family life."

"Fining families is a dreadfully draconian solution. I know that local jurisdictions are trying their best to hold parents accountable, but this is overreach. Besides, is there a real cause-and-effect relationship here?", says Singletary.

She uses the Los Angeles trauncy laws as both example of what she calls "over reach" by the schools systems, and cites the recent victory won by CRC and allies to alter the truancy laws.