By Bruce Schreiner
The Associated Press

LOUISVILLE - Jefferson County Attorney Irv Maze stepped up his fight Tuesday against school truancy, charging 38 parents with allowing their children to skip school routinely.

In each case, the children involved had 16 to 60 unexcused absences in the last school year, said Jefferson County public schools Superintendent Stephen Daeschner, a supporter of the truancy crackdown.

Maze's office warned the parents or guardians last March that they faced possible legal action if their children continued to miss school.

"It's failing your responsibilities as a parent, no matter what the excuse will be," Maze said Tuesday.

"I've heard a lot of bad excuses, but there's no way a child ... can make school unless the parent or guardian shows some leadership."

The parents also either refused assistance from social workers or the assistance went unheeded. The parents will be served their summonses later this week to appear in Jefferson County District Court, Maze said.

Kentucky law considers a student habitually truant after nine unexcused absences in a school year, Maze's office said.

The latest round of charges is the most since Maze began his anti-truancy campaign in 2001. Since then, 70 parents or guardians - including the latest 38 - have faced charges for the chronic truancy of their children. In each case, the specific charge was third-degree unlawful transaction with a minor, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and/or a $500 fine. Sixteen people have been convicted, and two spent time in jail after violating probation.