June 26, 2013 Absenteeism in the Middle Grades: The Prevalence, the Impact and Turning it Around Twitter Hashtag: #MLBR13

Sponsored by… Alliance for Excellent Education Association for Middle Level Education National Association of Elementary School Principals National Association of Secondary School Principals National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform

A Special Thanks to our Honorary Co-Host Rep. Raúl Grijalva (AZ-7)

Moderator: Jeff LaRoux President, Association for Middle Level Education Presenters: Sue Fothergill Senior Policy Associate, Attendance Works Vincent Mascia Principal Southmoreland Middle School, Scottdale, PA Nikita Horn Early Indicator Data Manager & In-School Communicator Masan Elementary School, Chicago, IL

Attendance Works is a national and state initiative that promotes better policy and practice around school attendance. We promote tracking chronic absence data for each student beginning in kindergarten, or ideally earlier, and partnering with families and community agencies to intervene when poor attendance is a problem for students or schools.

1.Unpacking Attendance Terms 2.The Impact of Chronic Absence on Youth Outcomes 3.Baltimore Leading the Way with Increased Attendance in the Middle Grades 6 Overview

Average Daily Attendance The % of enrolled students who attend school each day. It is used in some states for allocating funding. Truancy Typically refers only to unexcused absences and is defined by each state under No Child Left Behind. It signals the potential need for legal intervention under state compulsory education laws. Chronic Absence Missing 10% or more of school for any reason – excused, unexcused, etc. It is an indication that a student is academically at risk due to missing too much school starting in Kindergarten. Unpacking Attendance Terms 7

Most schools only track average daily attendance and truancy. Both can mask chronic absence. Moving into Action Requires Knowing if Chronic Absence is a Problem 8 98% ADA = little chronic absence 95% ADA = don’t know 93% ADA = significant chronic absence Average Daily Attendance

Chronic Absence Versus Truancy 9

 Nationwide, as many as 10-15% of students (7.5 million) miss nearly a month of school every year. That’s 135 million days of lost time in the classroom.  In some cities, as many as one in four students are missing that much school.  Chronic absenteeism is a red alert that students are headed for academic trouble and eventually for dropping out of high school.  Poor attendance isn’t just a secondary school problem. It can start as early as kindergarten and pre-kindergarten. 10 Chronic Absence: A Hidden National Crisis

Students with more years of chronic absenteeism have lower 2 nd grade scores * Indicates that scores are significantly different from scores of students who are never chronically absent, at p<.05 level; **p<.01; ***p<.001 Some risk At risk

12 Why Interrupting Chronic Early Absence Matters Oakland Unified School District SY , Analysis By Attendance Works Each year of chronic absence in elementary school is associated with a substantially higher probability of chronic absence in 6 th grade Chronic absence in 1 st grade is also associated with: Lower 6 th grade test scores Higher levels of suspension Years of Chronic Absence in Grades 1-5 Increase in probability of 6 th grade chronic absence 5.9x 7.8x 18.0x

13 Poor Attendance in 6 th Grade Predicts Withdrawals High School Outcomes by Rates of Chronic Absenteeism in Sixth Grade (Baltimore City Public Schools, Sixth Grade Cohort) Student Attendance Source: Baltimore Education Resource Consortium

14 Solutions Only Work if Grounded in Understanding of What Leads to Chronic Absence Myths Absences are only a problem if they are unexcused Sporadic versus consecutive absences aren’t a problem Attendance only matters in the older grades Barriers Lack of access to health care Poor transportation No safe path to school Aversion Child struggling academically Lack of engaging instruction Poor school climate and ineffective school discipline Parents had negative school experience

15 Universal Strategies for Building a Habit of Attendance While Identifying Systemic Barriers

What has worked in Baltimore Fewer unnecessary suspensions, Reduced middle school transitions through the creation of Prek – 8 and 6 – 12 grade configured schools, Changed the middle school model at the remaining middle schools to reflect District education priorities including smaller more personal learning environments, thematic learning opportunities, and a focus on STEM education. Expanded monitoring of attendance data, and Formed a multi-organizational workgroup to identify and implement recommendations to improve attendance. 16 For additional examples:

17 Baltimore City Attendance Data

Roswell B. Mason Elementary School Principal: Tonya Tolbert Assistant Principal: Lee McLaurin Presenter: Nikita Horn 1830 South Keeler Ave Chicago, Illinois “We are Mason Achievers Powerful, Strong and Determined. Striving daily to do our very best…”

Indicators for Students Success: Interventions and Supports to Help Middle Grades Students (ISIS) As early as sixth grade schools are able to identify, with high predictability, whether students are on-track for high school graduation. Attendance Behavior English grades Math grades Using these success indicators, the ISIS framework guides schools through a five-part process that includes:

ISIS Framework Five-part process 1. Implementing school structures necessary for addressing individual student needs 2. Analyzing ISIS data to identify students in need of supports and interventions 3. Designing tiered supports and interventions in each of the four indicator areas 4. Matching “off-track” students with appropriate supports and interventions 5. Continually tracking data to be sure students are moving back on track

How we identify at risk students?

Middle School Attendance Interventions & Incentives at Mason School Make parental contact (teacher) 5-10 day certified letter Attendance incentives  Jamboree Concert  Lunch with the principal  Yearly and quarterly perfect attendance trophies  Special field trips and out of uniform days Conference with student during advisory Middle School attendance bulletin board

How early indicators data improved our school’s middle school attendance… Middle School Attendance Data 1 ST quarter middle school attendance – 89.25% 2 nd quarter middle school attendance – 89.86% 3 rd quarter middle school attendance – 90.54% 4 th quarter middle school attendance – 91.76% Middle School Attendance Data 1 ST quarter middle school attendance – 88.75% 2 nd quarter middle school attendance – 89.86% 3 rd quarter middle school attendance – 92.02% 4 th quarter middle school attendance – 93.67% Attendance Goals 1st quarter – 90% 2 nd quarter – 92% 3 rd quarter – 94% 4 th quarter – 96%

Southmoreland Middle School Vincent Mascia Principal Scottdale, PA Grades: 6-8 Enrollment: 445 Free/Reduced: 52%

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Individualized Interventions to Meet Student Needs Intentional Non-Learner vs. the Academically Struggling Student Tiered Intervention Schedule to Meet Diverse Student Needs School-wide Belief That Everyone is Responsible to Assist Students – Shared Responsibility for the Learning and Success of All Students Individual Student Learning Plans Communication is Vital

Celebrate and Recognize Student Successes Students and Adults Must Believe in the Crucial Message Student of the Month Group Effort for Maximum Success (GEMS)

Recognizing the Lead Sponsors of Success in the Middle Bills H.R. 2316: Success in the Middle Act of 2013 Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D) Arizona S Success in the Middle Act of 2013 Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D) Rhode Island

Questions from Audience