Mom Jailed 180 Days for Kids' Truancy

A California mother who let her two young kids miss a huge chunk of school last year for no good reason is paying the price in jail. Lorraine Cuevas, 34, already has begun serving her 180-day sentence for violating the state's truancy law, reports KMPH. Kings County school officials say she ignored repeated warnings as her kids missed a combined 116 days, more than the 10% allowed under the law. The kids have good attendance so far this year with their mom in jail. Cuevas is at least the second parent jailed in the last two years on the charge in Kings County.

"It's a process that takes months to get to this point," says the local school superintendent. "On average we're making 15 to 20 calls in dealing with these issues." (More truancy stories.)