Why is attendance & understanding a report card important for my child’s success? Jackie Olivo Latino Resource Organization FamilySource Center Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Attendance Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

District Expectation  The LAUSD’s goal is for ALL students to attend at a rate of 96% or higher.  We expect all students to be present in school, on-time, every day.  Students should miss no more than 7 days of school per school year. Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

What Does Good Attendance Look Like? Chronic Absence 15 or more absences Warning Signs days absences Good Attendance 7 or fewer absences Goal: Students with 7 or fewer absences in a school year Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Two types of school absences  Excused Absences  Unexcused Absences Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Excused Absences  Illness, verified by parent/guardian or doctor  Medical appointments, verified by written notes from a doctor or parent/guardian  Quarantine of the home, verified by the Health Department  Illness of child or medical appointment  Mandatory court hearings (with prior approval)  Lice  Funeral due to the death of the student’s immediate family:  1 day for funerals within California  3 days for funerals outside of California Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Unexcused Absences  Vacations  Absent without parental consent  Illness not verified by parent/guardian  Babysitting  Runaway from home  Family emergency or problems  Weather (rain, wind or heat) Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Tardies & Early Leaves  Tardies  School starts at 8:00 a.m.  Warning bell rings at 7:55 a.m.  Early Leaves  Will be reflected on their attendance record  Will be marked excused/unexcused Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Students who Miss school, Miss out!  Students who miss school lose out on valuable instructional time.  Students who miss school are at-risk for school failure and are more likely to eventually drop out.  Students who miss school require extra time from teachers to catch up, leaving less time for other students. Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

What is Chronic Absenteeism?  National = 10% (18 absences)  LAUSD = 9% (15 Absences) Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Chronic Absences in Early Grades  In the LAUSD, 2 out of every 10 kindergarten and first grade students are chronically absent.  Nationally, this number is about half (1 in 10). Chronic absence in any grade puts our students at-risk for school failure and ultimately, dropout. Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Chronic Absences Begins in Kindergarten A student who is chronically absent in Kindergarten:  Is more likely to perform poorly in first grade, especially in Reading  Is likely to have lower academic achievement in fifth grade Why do parents think Kindergarten is not important?  It’s just Kindergarten… all they do is color.  Kids get sick a lot.  They are too little for such a long day.  Parents and family are too busy to take them to school. Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Chronic Absence in Middle School A student who is chronically absent in sixth grade is at greater risk of becoming a high school dropout (Balfanz and Herzog) Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Chronic Absence in 9 th Grade A student who is chronically absent in ninth grade is much less likely to graduate on-time with their class (Chicago Public Schools Consortium) Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Dropout Statistics  There is a strong correlation between poor attendance and delinquent behavior, teen pregnancy and school dropouts.  Most of the minors placed in the California Youth Authority (CYA) had poor attendance.  Students described a pattern of refusing to wake up, missing school, skipping class – and each absence made them less willing to go back.  80% of the prison population do not have their high school diploma.  Warning Signs: low grades, discipline and behavioral problems, lack of involvement in class and in school activities, pregnancy, being held back a grade or more. Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Average Annual Earnings  HS Dropout $17,  High School: $39,  Some College: $45,  Bachelor's: $59,  Master's: $93,  PhD: $197, Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

The Law & Legal Consequences Compulsory Full-Time Education E.C  All children between the ages 6 and 18 years must attend school full time.  All parents, guardians, and students are responsible to comply with this law. Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Violation of This Law May Result in  Initial truancy notification  ACT – Abolish Chronic Truancy  SART (School Attendance Review Team)  May be ordered to attend parenting classes and/or counseling  SARB (Student Attendance Review Board)  District Attorney or City Attorney Prosecution  May be fined up to $2,500  May serve up to a year in jail Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

What Parents/Guardians can do  Send your child to school every day on time, in every grade, including Kindergarten.  Make any appointments during school vacations or off time.  Establish a schedule and stick to it!  Make sure your child goes to bed early so that s/he will be ready to learn.  Prepare school clothes, homework and supplies the night before school.  Keep a positive attitude about school and daily attendance because children are taught to value education by the adults in their lives.  Contact your child’s school administrator or counselor for help and support if you need it! Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Student Attendance is the Key to Student Success Every School Day COUNTS! A missed school day is a lost opportunity for a student to learn. Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

REPORT CARDS Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Importance of Report Cards  For schools and teachers to evaluate and assess your child’s progress in his/her classes  To inform Parents and Students of progress  To inform teachers how students are progressing to provide the appropriate intervention and support Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Educators use grades to…  Give each student and his/her family feedback about the student’s progress and mastery of the content standards  Provide guidance to teachers for instructional planning, re-teaching, and intervention  Provide information useful to plan for student matriculation, retention, and future course work Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Elementary Report Cards All schools will issue the Elementary School Progress Report to parents three times during the school year for grades K-5/6 schools. Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Achievement Score Indicates student PROGRESS towards achievement of grade-level, state and district standards Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Effort Score Indicates student EFFORT towards achievement of grade-level, state and district standards Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Work and Study Habits Score Indicates student DEVELOPMENT in work and study habits, and learning and social skills. Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Identifying Information Grades by Academic Subjects AC: Achievement EF: Effort Grades & Reporting Periods Attendance Learning and Social Skills Work and Study Habits Key Code Instructional Program (e.g., ELD) PAGE 1 of 2 Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

PAGE 2 of 2 Teacher comments by reporting period Message to Parent from Teacher Mensaje del maestro(a) para el padre Parent can write message to teacher Parent Signature Firma del Padre Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Secondary Report Cards Middle and High School Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Progress Reports vs Final Grades  Progress Report Cards –Mailed every 5, 10, 15 weeks in each semester –Allows you to monitor progress and speak with your child’s counselor and/or teachers  Final Grade Report Cards –At the 20 week mark –Final grades go onto your child’s cumulative record Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Criteria for Grades Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Criteria for Work Habits & Cooperation Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Identifying Information Grades by Academic Subjects/Periods Attendance by Period Attendance and Tardies PAGE 1 of 1 Key Code Grades by Grade Reporting Period Final Grade Teacher Comments Academic, Work Habits, Cooperation Non-Final Grades: (Report periods 5, 10, 15) I: Incomplete, M: Meets Standard, N: No Mark Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

What’s Next? Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Contact School & Set up a Conference  If you are concerned, question or don’t understand something on the report card  If you notice any D or F  If you notice uncleared or excessive absences Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Communication with Child  Speak with your child about their understanding of why they received those marks.  Let your child know that you will be meeting with his/her teacher or counselor.  Invite your child to the conference (if appropriate). Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Resources Websites: pdf LAUSD: Pupil Services – Program and Services – Attendance Improvement Programs – AIP toolkit Pupil Services – Resources – Parent Guardian Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved

Education is Everyone’s Business Home, School & Community  Parents, schools and communities must work together to increase student attendance, student achievement, and high school graduation rates.  Let’s give our youth the future that they deserve! Copyright © Los Angeles Unified School District - All rights reserved