Children and families
need JP1 now
more than ever
Children and families
need JP1 now
more than ever
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The Crisis We Face
Schools across JP Precinct 1 are facing a critical moment when it comes to student attendance and the well-being of our children. The data tells a troubling story that demands our attention and action.
The Numbers Are Alarming
For instance, EPISD reported a 37% chronic absenteeism rate in 2021-22—the highest for any public school district in El Paso County (El Paso Matters, December 2024).
EPISD lost $25.9 million in state funding due to unexcused absences in 2024-25—money that could have supported our children (CBS4, August 2025).
In 2022, EPISD stopped sending absence notices for two months, breaking 'the key chain of communication between the school and the parent' (El Paso Matters).
Statewide, approximately 1 million Texas children are reported truant every year (2020-2024 school years) (KPRC 2, February 2025).
Chronic absenteeism in Texas nearly doubled after the pandemic—from about 11% to over 25%—and still hasn't fully recovered (Texas Standard, August 2024). El Paso County followed the same pattern (The 74, April 2024).
13-14% of Texas school districts reported zero truancy prevention efforts in the last four years (KPRC 2, November 2025).
The Bigger Problem: Nobody's Tracking Outcomes
Perhaps most concerning: no state agency tracks what happens to students after they're referred to truancy court (KXAN, November 2024). The Texas Education Agency confirmed it has 'no authority to require courts to provide data on the handling of truant conduct cases.' State lawmakers and education experts have expressed alarm at this lack of oversight. As one attorney put it, 'How can we make smart, informed policy decisions about whether these interventions are working?' when we have no data on outcomes. Legislation has been filed to address this tracking gap (KXAN, March 2025).
What's Behind the Absences
Truancy isn't just about kids skipping school. Research shows chronic absence is often a canary in the coal mine—an early warning sign of deeper issues including homelessness, mental health struggles, lack of transportation, poverty, family crisis, bullying, or academic difficulties. Since the pandemic, families' attitudes about attendance have shifted, and schools are overwhelmed trying to address the root causes with limited resources.
Where JP Courts Can Help
Since Texas reformed truancy laws in 2015 to focus on civil rather than criminal penalties, JP courts have authority to order students and parents to participate in counseling, attend special classes, perform community service, and access other interventions (Texas Family Code Chapter 65). Done right, this can be an opportunity to connect families with services that address underlying problems—not just punish them for symptoms. But these tools only work when school districts properly refer cases in the first place.
My Vision for JP1
I believe JP1 can do more than process truancy cases—we can be a gateway to real help. Working with schools, mental health providers, and community organizations, we can ensure families get connected to resources that address the real reasons kids aren't attending school. I will also work to ensure school districts are following proper referral processes so that students who need intervention actually reach the court. We should also track our own outcomes: Are the interventions we order actually working? Are students returning to school? Are families getting the support they need? As an attorney who spent years as an educator working directly with at-risk students—designing intervention programs and tracking outcomes with data—I understand that lasting change requires addressing root causes, not just imposing penalties.