In the 1800s, the idea that all kids need to go to school went from an idea to legislation. And in 2001, the No Child Left Behind Act started requiring schools to report truancy, or chronic unexcused absences.
And now, we have kids like Nia.
12-year-old Nia’s mom, Gina, is always there for Nia and her siblings, but she simply doesn’t make enough money to get by.
That kind of poverty means Nia has a hard time at school. From skipping class because she can’t afford transportation, to having to stay home to babysit, her absences added up more than they both expected.
With the help of Kamala Harris, missing school these days opens up even bigger consequences – including jail time!
And Gina is one of the thousands of parents who’ve been sent behind bars for their child’s truancy. Other parents might miss jail time, but can face hefty fines or losing custody.
If poverty is the reason Nia was missing school, how is locking up her mother or sending her to foster care going to help her succeed?
The truth of the matter is: the criminal legal system is incapable of approaching Black children and their parents with empathy, instead of punishment. Criminalizing poverty won’t make children succeed in school. Instead, Black kids deserve accessible resources and support.