SAN FRANCISCO — Vice President Kamala Harris is facing renewed criticism for a controversial truancy policy she implemented while serving as San Francisco’s district attorney in the late 2000s. As part of her efforts to address chronic absenteeism in schools, Harris introduced a program that threatened parents with prosecution if their children repeatedly missed school, a move she defended at the time despite backlash.
In a speech from January 2009, Harris explained her reasoning, saying, “A child going without an education is tantamount to a crime.” She described how she had begun prosecuting parents for truancy, a policy she said was necessary to combat high dropout rates and reduce future criminal behavior. “This was a little controversial in San Francisco,” Harris said, noting that even her own staff expressed concern about the political risks.
Harris outlined how her office sent letters on official district attorney letterhead to parents throughout San Francisco, warning them of the consequences of continued truancy. She recounted how the letters had a noticeable impact, sharing an anecdote of a friend whose spouse “freaked out” upon receiving one. “She brought all the kids into the living room, held up the letter, [and] said, ‘If you don’t go to school, Kamala’s gonna put you and me in jail,’” Harris said, adding, “Yes, we achieved the intended effect.”
While Harris argued that the initiative was successful in improving school attendance, critics have questioned whether criminalizing truancy is an appropriate or effective way to address educational gaps. The program has continued to be a point of contention, especially among those who feel that it disproportionately affects low-income families and communities of color.
Harris’s truancy policy resurfaced during her 2020 presidential campaign and has remained a topic of debate among those examining her record as a prosecutor. As she continues to play a prominent role in national politics, this past initiative is likely to remain a focal point for her critics, especially as conversations on criminal justice reform and equity in education gain traction across the country.