Category Archives: Videos

July 26, 2011 - New Texas Legislation was recently signed into law, and while Senate Bill 1489 has many different parts, one section deals specifically with how schools handle truancy cases.

The new bill amends the Texas Education Code and requires school districts adopt truancy prevention measures prior to referring and filing a truancy case with the courts.

According to the new legislation, the truancy programs must be designed to “address student conduct related to truancy in the school setting,” and “minimize the need for referrals to juvenile court” or “justice court alleging truancy,” among other filing requirements.

Aim’s current clients are likely already in full compliance with the new requirements under this specific part of the new law.

For more information on the specifics of the law, visit Aim’s 1489 Compliance Section.

May 24, 2011 – The Texas House of Representatives voted 139-0 to adopt Senate Bill 1489 on Monday, which amends the state education code by adding a new section devoted to adopting truancy prevention measures.

The bill, which still needs to be signed into law by Texas Governor Rick Perry, requires school districts to address truancy at the school level in order to minimize the need for referrals to juvenile courts. Also, the new amendments will require that all truancy referrals in Texas be accompanied by documentation of the district’s effort to correct the behavior.

“We have several, well established and proven programs that keep kids in school and out of the courtroom,” says Travis Knox, President of Aim Truancy Solutions, which has offered truancy intervention programs since 2005. Knox also noted that most of Aim’s current clients are likely already in full compliance with the new truancy prevention measures, referral, and filing requirements.

If Governor Perry signs the bill, the new truancy laws will go into effect on September 1, 2011.

For more information, visit Aim’s SB 1489 Compliance Section.

Dallas, Texas, January 24, 2011 – The company behind a successful truancy intervention program that has been praised in national media announced that it is adopting a new image to support its nationwide expansion. Known as Attendance Improvement Management (AIM), the company is now called Aim Truancy Solutions. President Travis Knox says that the new name better reflects the company’s mission to solve the truancy epidemic in the United States. “Truancy is an enormous challenge in our country, with devastating consequences,” says Knox. “Students who are frequently absent from school are more likely to drop out, which leads to joblessness, crime, and prison. By addressing the problem, we get students back on track to graduate and make a direct impact on our country’s crime rate.”

The Aim truancy program has garnered national attention from CNN, Fox News, ABC News and “CBS Evening News With Katie Couric.” The program’s success is due to its unique combination of individualized mentoring and GPS monitoring. Students in the program carry a handheld GPS device, on which they’re required to check in with a trained mentor multiple times a day. Additionally, the personal mentor calls the student throughout the week for coaching and guidance. “A portion of what we do is monitor that the kids get to school and that they’re where they should be; but the larger part of what we do is mentor these kids and get them the support they need to succeed,” says Knox.

Following the successful application of their model in several states, Aim Truancy Solutions is expanding its proven truancy intervention program into school districts across the United States.