Develop Positive Relationships (click here to read about the power of positive relationships)
Build relationships through Homeroom teachers, SPARK teams, coaches, Mentors, counselors
Nurturing Positive School Relationships (Click here to read more about "Heartwork")
Set goals and expectations for good attendance habits (Resources for effective messaging)
Strive for 5 Challenge (Click here to learn more)- Strive for less than 5 days absent during the school year
Create attendance plans with families of students that are chronically absent (goal setting sheet-click here)
Offer Incentives-
Free or inexpensive incentives for students (click here for ideas)
Offer incentives to families for good or improved attendance (chance on a food basket, free pass to ballgames, gas card, etc)
Competitions to encourage good attendance:
Promote competitions between classes or grades
Attendance challenge in the fall- "Be Cool, Pack the School" (Attendance Awareness Month in September)-Promote the challenge, make it a competition with incentives, get parents and community partners involved (click here to read a school's success story)
Form Attendance Teams(click here for resources)- Collect and act on Real-time attendance data (Reports can be obtained through Infinite Campus)
Use data to complete Home visits to students with chronic absences-(possibly use Title I (parent involvement) funds when available to educate parents)
Make personal phone calls to students that are chronically absent
Provide Individual Support based on data, home visits, and phone calls
Engage students and families to reduce chronic absences (refer to educating stakeholders)
Ensure that families are aware of the resources available through the school (nurse, nurse practitioner, behavior therapist, counselors, FRYSC)
Create an environment where students feel welcomed, accepted, and protected
Develop community partners
Put videos & information about the importance of attendance on teacher/school web page (possibly add a link to registration pages)
Teachers and staff play a vital role in promoting good attendance habits, setting expectations, and educating students and parents. What can we do to ensure that everyone is utilizing effective messaging?