Date of Conferral

7-6-2026

Date of Award

July 2026

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Michael Klemp-North

Abstract

Truancy and chronic absenteeism among adjudicated youth are significant concerns for educators, school administrators, policymakers, and juvenile justice stakeholders because persistent school disengagement may contribute to pathways associated with the school-to-prison pipeline. Grounded in Hirschi’s social bond theory, the purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between parental involvement, extracurricular activities, and teacher–student social bonds and truancy/chronic absenteeism among adjudicated youth. Secondary data were obtained from the Pathways to Desistance study, which included 1,070 adjudicated youth ages 14–17 from Maricopa County, Arizona, and Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Multiple linear regression was used to examine the relationships among parental monitoring, participation in extracurricular activities, bonding to teachers, and truancy/chronic absenteeism. The results of the multiple linear regression were significant, F(3, 1066) = 19.088, p < .001, R² = .051. Parental monitoring and bonding to teachers were statistically significant predictors of truancy/chronic absenteeism, whereas participation in extracurricular activities was not a statistically significant predictor. A key recommendation is for educators, school leaders, and policymakers to prioritize preventive interventions that strengthen family engagement and supportive teacher–student relationships to improve school attendance among at-risk youth. The implications for positive social change include the potential for educators, school leaders, and policymakers to implement strategies that improve school engagement, reduce chronic absenteeism, and disrupt pathways associated with juvenile justice involvement.

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