Margate Mom Back Behind Bars Over Child’s Alleged School Absences

by Ryan Yousefi July 15, 2026

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Stephanie Orange {BSO}

A Margate mother was arrested again after police say her Atlantic West Elementary child continued missing school despite a court order requiring perfect attendance as part of probation.

According to a Margate Police Department arrest report, Stephanie Orange, 28, was first charged in 2024 after a warrant was issued following Margate Police’s investigation of repeated school absences involving her third-grade child at Atlantic West Elementary School.

Rather than serving jail time, Orange was placed on probation with specific conditions designed to improve her child’s school attendance.

According to the original probable cause affidavit, Orange came under fire by school officials and, eventually, law enforcement after her child accumulated 66 absences during the school year, including 45 unexcused absences, 46 tardies, one early dismissal, and nearly 700 minutes of missed instructional time.

School officials reportedly made repeated attempts to work with both parents, including phone calls, emails, and a scheduled meeting with the Broward Truancy Intervention Program, which neither parent attended, before the case was referred to the police.

Court records show one of those special conditions prohibited any additional unexcused absences or tardies.

According to the probation violation warrant, Orange repeatedly violated that condition.

The warrant alleges her child accumulated unexcused absences during the 2025 school year on March 3, April 1, 2, 8, 15, and April 28. It also alleges that the child was tardy on February 18, 19, 20; March 10 and 11; April 7, 9, 11, and April 16.

In addition to the attendance violations, the warrant states Orange failed to pay the required monthly probation supervision fees.

According to the new arrest affidavit, Orange voluntarily surrendered at the Broward County Main Jail on March 10.

On April 27, an additional warrant was issued for Orange’s arrest, and she was taken into custody again on July 12.

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Ryan Yousefi

Ryan Yousefi has lived in Coral Springs for over 30 years. He has worked as a writer for multiples outlets over the years, including the Miami New Times where he has covered sports and culture since 2013. He holds a Bachelor's Degree and a Master's Degree in Business Healthcare Management from Western Governors University.