Truancy crackdown may cost families state aid

(WXYZ) - A major crackdown on truancy gets underway in Michigan on Monday, and it could cost some families their welfare cash benefits.

Under the policy taking effect October 1, families could be at risk of losing their cash benefits if a child has 10 or more unexcused absences per school year.

The previous policy only required 16 and 17-year-old students to be in class, and if they were absent, the state did not cut benefits for their family.

The new policy includes children six to 15 years old.

If a family loses their benefits, they will need to prove their child has been in school for 21 days in a row, before benefits will be restored.

Truancy rates have risen over the past few years. In 2011, there were 93,000 cases of truancy reported in Michigan schools, an increase of 10,000 from the previous year.