LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Lancaster County Truancy Diversion Project is seeing success in improving grades and attendance among students at the six participating schools.

The program allows students facing truancy petitions from the county attorney’s office to avoid possible legal punishments by participating in the program. The program requires students to avoid further unexcused absences or suspensions, attend counseling services and demonstrate passing grades.

Students who achieve perfect attendance, improved grades and commitment to therapy are now able to skip bi-weekly truancy diversion court hearings.

The program began in January 2011 at Park Middle School. Since then, average daily attendance at the school has increased from 94.2 percent to 95.5 percent.