Addressing Chronic Absenteeism Administrative Services

Chronic Absenteeism

Key Terms Average Daily Attendance: The percentage of enrolled students who attend school each day. Satisfactory Attendance: Missing 5% or less of school in an academic year. Chronic Absence: Missing 10% or more of school in an academic year for any reason—excused or unexcused. Severe Chronic Absence: Missing 20% or more days of school per year – approximately two months of school. Truancy: In California, this means missing 3 days of school or being tardy more than 30 minutes without a valid excuse. (truancy is defined by each state.)

4 Students Who Miss More Than 10% Of School Are At Grave Risk When 90% Doesn’t Earn an “A” Chronic Absence (=>10% absence) Warning Signs ( 5% absence) Satisfactory Attendance (=<5% absence) 0-90% 91-94% 95 %+95 %+ Emergency: =>20% absence

5 Source: Applied Survey Research & Attendance Works (April 2011) 80% 64% 60% 43% 41% 17% 0% 20% 40% 100% No attendance risksSmall attendance risksModerate attendance risksHigh attendance risks Kindergarten & 1 st Grade Much Less Likely to Read Proficiently in 3 rd Grade Percent Students Scoring Proficient or Advanced on 3 rd Grade ELA Based on Attendance in Kindergarten and 1 st Grade Students Chronically Absent in No riskNo riskMissed less than 5% of school in K & 1 st t Small riskMissed 5-9% of days in both K & 1 st Moderate risk5-9% of days absent in 1 year &10 % in 1 year High riskMissed 10% or more in K & 1 st

9 Source: Baltimore Education Research Consortium SY Chronically Absent 6th Graders Have Lower Graduation Rates Dropout Rates by Sixth Grade Attendance (Baltimore City Public Schools, Sixth Grade Cohort) Severely Chronically Absent Chronically Absent Not Chronically Absent

10 9th Grade Attendance Predicts Graduation for Students of All Economic Backgrounds Note: This Chicago study found attendance was a stronger graduation predictor than 8th grade test scores. Source: Allensworth & Easton, What Matters for Staying On-Track and Graduating in Chicago Public Schools, Consortium on Chicago School Research at U of C, July 2007 Need to recolor chart

MY CHILD'S ATTENDANCE GOAL: Last year, my child was present 157 days. My child was absent 18 days (89 %). My child's current attendance rate is 91% (absent 6 days out of 65.) To be ready for 1st grade, my goal is to improve my child's attendance rate by 6% (89 + 6= 95). TO IMPROVE MY CHILD’S ATTENDANCE I CAN COMMIT TO THE FOLLOWING: 1. Attends 174 days out of 180 days absent 6 days 96.6% attendance rate % % % POSSIBLE STRATEGIES TO REACH YOUR CHILD’S ATTENDANCE GOAL: I will keep an attendance chart at home. At the end of the week, I will reward my child for attending school every day with ______ (i.e. a visit to the park, extra video game time, a special treat). I will make sure my child is in bed by ____ p.m. and the alarm clock is set for ____ a.m. If my child consistently complains of a stomach or head ache, I will send him/her to school anyway and call the school nurse/health clerk so that he/she can check in with him/her during the school day. If my child has a cold but no fever (less than 100 degrees), I will send him/her to school anyway. If I don’t have a thermometer, I will purchase or borrow one. I will find a relative, friend, or neighbor who can take my child to school if I can’t or if he/she misses the bus. If my child is absent, I will contact his/her teacher to find out how he/she can make up missed schoolwork. I will set medical and dental appointments for weekdays after 3:30 pm. Great attendance in Kindergarten is the pathway to great academic success!