Description

The School Truancy measure captures self-reported school disengagement behaviors over the past year, including skipping school, suspension or expulsion due to misbehavior, and dropping out. These items reflect different levels of school-related risk behavior and can help identify youth who may be disconnected from formal education settings. Each item is asked in a yes/no format with a “Don’t Know/Refused” option and focuses on specific behavioral indicators of school avoidance or disciplinary action.

AI/AN Communities where the measure has been used

Communities in the northern Midwestern United States and Canada

Demographics of AI/AN participants where the scale has been used

Youth aged 10-18

Notes on adaptations or modifications

N/A

Modality and administration

Youth self-report; this measure is administered via in-person/phone interviews or an online REDCap link is sent to the participant

Scoring

Each item in the School Truancy measure uses a Yes = 1/No = 0 response format, with “Don’t Know/Refuse to Answer” treated as missing data. Items are not summed into a total score but are instead analyzed individually to assess the presence or absence of specific school disengagement behaviors – skipping school, being suspended or expelled, and having dropped out of school.

Psychometric evidence

No evidence available.

Citation(s)

N/A – Developed for Healing Pathways