ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS TRYING A NEW APPROACH WHEN IT COMES TO BATTLING TRUANCY. THE DISTRICT'S KRIS MEURER SAYS THE FOCUS WILL BE MORE ON INTERVENTION THAN PUNISHMENT.

SHE TELLS 770 KKOB THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY KIDS MISS CLASS ... ANYTHING FROM A LACK OF TRANSPORTATION TO DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE.

A PILOT PROGRAM AT 14 DISTRICT SCHOOLS WILL BEGIN IN THE FALL. MEURER SAYS ABOUT 15 PERCENT OF APS STUDENTS WERE HABITUALLY TRUANT LAST YEAR...UP FROM ABOUT 10 PERCENT THREE YEARS EARLIER.