Little Rock to open center to combat truancy

— A new center set to open this week in Little Rock will create space for holding youths picked up on the streets during the school day as part of an effort to combat truancy.

Little Rock Police Department Sgt. Cassandra Davis said the new Truancy Center at the site of the old Garland Elementary School, 3615 W. 25th St., will open for the first time Wednesday.

A Little Rock Police Department officer and a Little Rock School District employee will staff it each school day from 8:30 a.m. till noon.

Davis said police will take truants to the center during the day. At noon, all truants at the center will be bused back to their school.

"It's just a place to keep them in a central location," she said.

Officers currently have to transport truants to a school after picking them up, she said.

City ordinance prohibits minors from being out in public by themselves between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. and during the school day, which is defined as between 9 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. when school is in session.

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