Truancy Curriculum Spotlight: Building a Path Back to Educational Success

In our ongoing commitment to helping young people who are involved in the justice system build better futures, NCTI’s Truancy curriculum stands out as a powerful tool for addressing one of the most common challenges facing youth today: school attendance.

Beyond Simply Showing Up: A Comprehensive Approach to School Attendance

When young people consistently miss school, it’s often a symptom of deeper issues that require a thoughtful, structured approach. That’s why our Truancy curriculum goes beyond simply encouraging attendance to help students discover the genuine relevance of education in their lives.

What sets our approach apart is the focus on helping young people recognize the disconnect between their values and their behavior. Through our Structured Skill Builds (SSBs), participants identify behaviors that don’t align with their personal values and practice alternative ways to act. This process creates a meaningful path toward positive change that comes from within.

Risk-Specific Programming for Maximum Impact

Understanding that truancy issues exist on a spectrum, we offer two carefully calibrated versions of the curriculum:

Low-Risk Truancy Program (8 hours) focuses on foundational elements over four sessions:

Introduction to the program and personal values exploration
Clarifying personal goals related to education
Real Colors® personality instrument workshop
Communication skills and “Inner Voice” development

Medium-Risk Truancy Program (26 hours) builds on this foundation with additional modules addressing:

Complex feelings about school and education
Substance use awareness and prevention
Advanced Real Colors® applications
Enhanced communication strategies
Decision-making skills in challenging situations

Each program is designed to meet young people where they are, providing the right intervention at the right time for maximum effectiveness.

The Power of Personality: Real Colors® Integration

A standout feature of our Truancy curriculum is the integration of the Real Colors® personality instrument in week three. This powerful tool helps young people understand themselves and others better, creating the foundation for improved communication with teachers, parents, and peers.

After the initial Real Colors® workshop, young people explore additional modules specifically tailored to communication and stress management. This personalized approach helps them:

Identify their natural communication preferences
Develop strategies for connecting with different personality types
Build resilience and coping mechanisms for school-related stress

Personal Awareness Journal®: Reinforcing Growth Through Reflection

Each session concludes with young people recording their experiences and insights in their Personal Awareness Journal®. This isn’t just homework—it’s a structured opportunity for them to:

Reflect on what they’ve learned in each session
Document their progress and challenges
Practice new skills between sessions
Solidify new behaviors through written expression

These journal entries create a tangible record of growth and provide opportunities for further discussion in subsequent sessions.

Measurable Results Through Pre and Post Testing

Our comprehensive pre and post-testing system allows schools and agencies to track specific improvements in key areas including:

Changed feelings about school and education
Enhanced communication skills
Improved attitudes toward making and learning from mistakes
Recognition of successful behaviors in the school environment
Understanding of discipline and its purpose
Commitment to graduation goals

This data-driven approach ensures that facilitators can identify areas where participants are making progress and where additional focus may be needed.

Key Activities That Drive Engagement

The curriculum includes several standout activities designed specifically to engage young people who experience challenges with school attendance:

Identifying supportive resources and allies within the school system
Developing personalized stress management techniques
Building self-acceptance and acceptance of others
Exploring real-world examples of those who have successfully completed their education

These interactive exercises transform abstract concepts into practical tools students can apply immediately.

A Curriculum Built on Evidence-Based Principles

Like all NCTI programs, the Truancy curriculum is grounded in our seven Building Blocks for Behavioral Change, ensuring that young people develop an individualized understanding of the relationship between their values, attitudes, and behaviors—particularly as they relate to school attendance.

The interactive learning process accommodates different learning styles, while a supportive environment allows young people to practice newly acquired skills without fear of judgment.

Ready to Make a Difference in Your School?

Whether you’re from a juvenile probation department, school district, or community-based organization, NCTI’s Truancy curriculum provides the structure, engagement, and evidence-based approach needed to help young people reconnect with education and build pathways to success. To receive a free sample of this curriculum and more information about implementing Crossroads® at your organization, contact Lindsay Boyd at lboyd@ncti.org.