Schools are expected to notify parents every time students are absent or late. There are many systems to automatically send texts, email and robocalls, but making personal phone calls is by far the most effective way to improve attendance. Additionally, this strategy opens two-communication between schools and families that lead to positive relationships and provide students with the best chance to succeed. Bronx Lab and CSSJ implemented this strategy in different ways to significantly improve attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism. Check out the videos below to learn more about how they implemented this strategy.
In this video, Al explains how personalized phone calls helped Bronx Lab, “boost the number of students who were in school every single day.”
“Chaunita starts making the phone calls in the morning and her personalized touch with each of the parents developed relationships with the chronically absent student as well as getting to know what the individual difficulties are getting in the way for the families getting their kids to school.”
In this video, Nilda explains what it takes to make effective and impactful daily attendance calls.
"The one thing that I would say to really implement to get a a really good impact is daily outreach
....because the outreach is not just outreach. It takes conversation, follow up and really forming a relationship with the student."
In this video, Chaunita explains her daily attendance outreach practices at Bronx Lab.
At the end of first period, Chaunika identifies students marked absent JumpRope and then she checks CAASS to see if the student has entered the building. Then, she calls the student or parent to find out why the student is not in school and help them problem-solve if they are considering being absent. The main goal is to get the student to come to school on that same day unless the student has an illness or other valid reason to be absent. While this works to prevent students from unexcused, unnecessary absences, it also fosters positive relationships with students and their families.