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What is the impact of a positive School Climate on attendance?
What is the impact of a positive School Climate on attendance?
Research has shown that positive school climate is tied to high or improving attendance rates, test scores, promotion rates, and graduation rates. For example, a 2008 study examined seven years of longitudinal data on school leadership, parent and community ties, faculty quality, school safety and order, and instructional guidance. Schools that measured strong in most supports were 10 times as likely as schools with one or two strengths to show substantial gains in reading and mathematics.
Conversely, negative school climate can harm students and raise liability issues for schools and districts. Negative school climate is linked to lower student achievement and graduation rates, and it creates opportunities for violence, bullying, and even suicide.
The Safe and Supportive Schools Model demonstrates general consensus among researchers and practitioners on many common characteristics of schools with a positive climate. Some researchers use the concept of creating conditions for learning in speaking about school climate, meaning that students are supported, students are socially capable, students are safe, and students are challenged. Others have outlined the importance of climate at the classroom level.
The strength of the linkages between school climate and academic achievement make it essential that all students have the opportunity to attend schools that provide a safe and supportive environment where they can thrive and fully engage in their studies.
From the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments from the U.S. Department of Education
Attendance Support: Tier I
Attendance Support: Tier I
Universal Promotion
Universal Promotion
What we do for all children and families?
What we do for all children and families?
Tier 1 Universal Attendance Support in schools should include:
Tier 1 Universal Attendance Support in schools should include:
- Clear, concise and consistent communication about schedules and expectations to staff, families, and students
- Routines, rituals and celebrations related to attendance and engagement
- Personalized positive communication to families when students are absent
- Recognition of good and improved attendance
- Impact of attendance on whole child widely understood
- Connection to a caring adult in the school
- Every child and their family encouraged to develop a success plan that includes attention to attendance
Data Sources: Log Entries in PowerSchool for teachers/staff and administration, PowerSchool Compliance Reports, MBA Attendance Monitor Dashboard, Data Central, PowerSchool Teacher Attendance Submission Report, Root Cause Worksheet
Data Sources: Log Entries in PowerSchool for teachers/staff and administration, PowerSchool Compliance Reports, MBA Attendance Monitor Dashboard, Data Central, PowerSchool Teacher Attendance Submission Report, Root Cause Worksheet
Tier 1 strategies are aimed at encouraging better attendance for all students and at preventing absenteeism before it affects achievement.
Foundational and Tier 1 attendance supports should be available for all students throughout the school year! Foundational supports promote the positive conditions for learning that ensure students are engaged and want to show up to school.
Tier 1 raises awareness about the vital role strong attendance plays in student achievement. These strategies are designed to motivate satisfactory attendance for every student. If a school has high levels of chronic absence, it can be a sign that a greater investment is needed in nurturing positive conditions for learning and offering Tier 1 universal attendance strategies.
School Attendance Self-Assessment: Use this to determine your readiness for positively and proactively supporting attendance this school year.
School Support Strategies:
Community Events
Back to School Celebrations
Community/Neighborhood Celebration or Rally
PBIS
Begin the year with training on how to monitor attendance data
Plan a back to school celebration to encourage attendance by setting a positive school climate at the beginning of the year
Recognition for schools- Celebrate student attendance
Include Attendance expectations and language in school matrix
Plan Celebrations for meeting school-wide attendance goals
Develop Teacher incentives for taking attendance to build positive habits
Develop class/student incentives around attendance
Develop parent incentives around attendance
Be Here, Be Great! - CCSD 2025 Attendance Campaign
Calendar of Events for launching attendance campaign
Request Preventative Support and Engagement
Reach out to District and community partners for engagement events
Family Support Strategies:
Highlight Attendance in School Newsletter
Provide information at Open house/Back to School Night
Host Parent Workshops/Parent Nights
Provide support and information through School Website & Social Media pages
Personalized outreach and communication to families
MBA Report Creator Notifications
Daily Posts on Social Media (Twitter, Facebook, Class Dojo)
Parent Education Group
2025-2026 Parent Back -To-School Resource Guide - COMING SOON!
Family Support Resources:
Home Matrix for supporting attendance
Attendance Support: Tier 2
Attendance Support: Tier 2
Explicit and Intentional
Explicit and Intentional
What we do intentionally for some children and families?
What we do intentionally for some children and families?
Tier 2 practices and systems provide targeted support for students who are chronically absent or truant. These practices should include:
Tier 2 practices and systems provide targeted support for students who are chronically absent or truant. These practices should include:
- Common community and school barriers identified and addressed
- Individualized student success plan that includes attention to attendance
- Attendance strategies added to IEP
- Family visit
- Mentors
- Success Mentors
- Peer Group Connections
- Intensive tutoring
- Check-In/Check-Out (CICO)
- Expanded learning opportunities
- Small group interventions and supports for students
- Restorative alternatives to discipline and suspension
Data Sources: Log Entries in PowerSchool for teachers/staff and administration, PowerSchool Compliance Reports, MBA Attendance Monitor Dashboard, Data Central, PowerSchool Teacher Attendance Submission Report, Root Cause Worksheet
Data Sources: Log Entries in PowerSchool for teachers/staff and administration, PowerSchool Compliance Reports, MBA Attendance Monitor Dashboard, Data Central, PowerSchool Teacher Attendance Submission Report, Root Cause Worksheet
Tier 2 Strategies and Supports
Tier 2 Strategies and Supports
Tier 2 interventions are designed to remove barriers to attendance for students at greater risk of chronic absenteeism, such as those who missed 10% of the school year, the standard definition of chronic absenteeism. Remember, this includes all days missed regardless of the reason. Whether students attend school in person, remotely, or with a hybrid schedule, missing 10% of school is the early warning sign that a student is off track.
These students and families should receive personalized attention as part of the engagement strategy.
During the current school year, activate Tier 2 assistance when a student misses two days in the first month, a total of four days by the end of the second month, six days by the end of the third month and so on. Early attendance patterns are highly predictive of later absences for both in-person and remote settings.
School Support Strategies
Family Support Strategies
Referral to School Counselor
Assign in School Mentor
Referral to Community in Schools
Parent Education Group
Attendance Support: Tier 3
Attendance Support: Tier 3
Individual and Intense
Individual and Intense
What we do explicitly for few children and families?
What we do explicitly for few children and families?
At most schools, there are 1-5% of students for whom Tier 1 and Tier 2 supports have not connected. At Tier 3, these students receive more intensive, individualized support to improve their attendance, and in turn, have a positive impact on other areas of performance. Tier 3 intensive interventions could include:
At most schools, there are 1-5% of students for whom Tier 1 and Tier 2 supports have not connected. At Tier 3, these students receive more intensive, individualized support to improve their attendance, and in turn, have a positive impact on other areas of performance. Tier 3 intensive interventions could include:
- Educational support champions / advocates
- Interagency case management
- Housing stability supports
- Student attendance review board
- Community-based, non-criminal truancy court
- Individualized learning and success plan leading to graduation
- Legal Intervention (as a last resort)
Data Sources: Log Entries in PowerSchool for teachers/staff and administration, PowerSchool Compliance Reports, MBA Attendance Monitor Dashboard, Data Central, PowerSchool Teacher Attendance Submission Report, Root Cause Worksheet
Data Sources: Log Entries in PowerSchool for teachers/staff and administration, PowerSchool Compliance Reports, MBA Attendance Monitor Dashboard, Data Central, PowerSchool Teacher Attendance Submission Report, Root Cause Worksheet
Tier 3 Strategies and Supports
Tier 3 Strategies and Supports
Tier 3 interventions provide intensive support to students missing the most school, often involving not just schools but other agencies such as health, housing and social services, and typically requiring case management customized to individual students’ challenges.
During the school year, activate Tier 3 supports whenever a student misses 20% or more of days enrolled. Finally, add Tier 3 supports when a student’s attendance has not improved, even with Tier 2 interventions.
Remember that each tier adds another layer of support. Students requiring additional Tier 2 or Tier 3 support still benefit, as all students do, from Foundational Supports and Tier 1!
All Tier 3 supports should be initiated and monitored by your MTSS Team.
School Support Strategies
Considerations for Virtual Placement (6th-12th ONLY)
Family Support Strategies
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