Attendance and Attendance Reporting

The Garrison Union Free School District will take daily attendance whether school opens in September in-person, hybrid, or remote. Attendance policies and procedures will be communicated with families and students prior to the start of the school year, or if the instructional model changes during the year. Communication will take the form building level parent letters/newsletter, emails and text messaging.

Teachers will record daily attendance in our student management system (eSD) based on the required daily scheduled student contact and engagement. Daily reports will be generated to identify students who are absent and/or chronically absent. Contact with the families will be made daily to determine reasons for absence and needs or barriers the student may have to participate in daily lessons.

Chronic Absenteeism

While there is no one-size-fits all approach to addressing chronic absenteeism, the Garrison Union Free School District is committed to providing interventions to prevent and address health-related and mental health chronic absenteeism. We recognize that many factors will influence student attendance, and may be greatly impacted by the instructional models provided; in-person, hybrid and remote.

The Garrison Union Free School District addresses chronic absenteeism as follows.

1. Nurture a culture of attendance:

• Communicate clearly to families and students what the attendance procedures are, and expectations for participating based on the model of instruction

• Explain the importance of attendance to the entire school community, via on-going Principal communication and teacher communication.

• Track daily attendance, late arrivals and student engagement in one central, secure location with a tool that helps you can quickly see how these data points impact student behavior.

2. Early Identification and Intervention

• Each school regularly monitors attendance data and communicates with parents about issues as they arise.

• Use data to identify which students are at risk, so you can intervene before isolated absences become chronic absenteeism.

• Establish intervention plans; parent phone call, home visit, counseling, instructional modifications, engage community partners, etc.

3. Create a more positive school culture and a focus on engaging instruction

• Evaluate and address your students’ engagement in learning.

• Provide teachers and school leaders with multiple levels of support to help students stay more engaged and act positively.

• Help students achieve positive social and emotional character development, while reinforcing the behaviors that make up your ideal school culture.

• Use goal-based incentives and rewards to motivate attendance and positive student behaviors where age appropriate.