In Collaboration with… Fostering Positive School Attendance David Wheeler, Ph.D. School Psychology Consultant Student Support Services Project BEESS/USF

In Collaboration with… Agenda Why focus on school attendance? How are comprehensive are our efforts to address attendance issues? What can we do to engage students and foster positive school attendance? How to identify students who off track? How do attendance and student engagement fit in a multi-tiered system of supports?

In Collaboration with… What is Chronic Absence? Truancy – number or frequency of unexcused absences (15 in 90 days in FL Statutes) Chronic absence – missing 10% or more of a school year for any reason (5 unexcused absences in a month or 10 unexcused in 90 days = pattern of nonattendance in FL). Disciplinary removal – greater risk than students with patterns of non-attendance w/out behavior problems. Missing school/class for any reason = loss of instruction

Chronic Absence FL Percent of Students Absent > 21 Days State Chronic Absenteeism Rate for K-12 = 9.5 Range: 1.6% % 2 districts with chronic absence rates < 5% 6 districts with chronic absence rates > 20%

Chronic Absence FL Percent of Students Absent > 21 Days 5 State Chronic Absenteeism Rate for K-12 = 8.92

In Collaboration with… Research on Impact of Chronic Absence Chronic absence in kindergarten & 1 st grade impacts 3 rd grade reading and math proficiency. Poor attendance in the first month of school can predict chronic absence for the entire year. Absenteeism in middle and high school can predict dropout rates. Impact of chronic absenteeism greater for students from low-income families. Improving attendance is an essential strategy for reducing achievement gaps. Absences Add Up: How school attendance influences student success

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In Collaboration with… Practices that distinguished districts with low rates Chronic absence is part of an early warning system. Adopted standard definition (missing > 10% of school days). Share data on multiple attendance measures for each school, grade and NCLB sub-population. School teams review data, set attendance targets and take action. Educate parents and students about the importance of good attendance starting in Kindergarten & PreK.

Identifying Root Causes (Problem Analysis ) “Truancy is not the problem – it’s an indicator of other problems. When students aren’t in school, we need to understand why they stay away before we can affect solutions”. California Safe Schools and Violence Prevention Office

Framework for Understanding Drop Out FactorCauseAgency Push out School imposed as consequence for attendance or discipline School Pull out Out-of-school reasons such as jobs, family, illness, pregnancy. Student Fall out Gradual disengagement not caused by push out or pull out factors - Understanding Why Students Drop Out of High School

In Collaboration with… School Connectedness

What is school connectedness? Belief by students that adults and peers in the school care about their learning and about them as individuals.

In Collaboration with… Importance of school connectedness More likely to attend school regularly, stay in school longer, and have higher grades and test scores. Less likely to smoke, drink, or have sexual intercourse. Less likely to carry weapons, become involved in violence, or be injured from drinking driving, or not wearing seat belts. Less likely to have emotional problems, suffer from eating disorders, or experience suicidal thoughts or attempts.

Factors that Increase School Connectedness Adult Support School staff dedicate time, interest, attention, and emotional support to students Belonging to a Positive Peer Group Stable network of peers improves student perceptions of school Commitment to Education Believing that school is important to their future & perceiving that adults are invested in their education School Environment Physical environment and psychosocial climate

Strategies to Increase School Connectedness Create decision-making processes that facilitate student, family, and community engagement. Provide education and opportunities to enable families to be actively involved in their children’s academic and school life. Provide students with the academic, emotional, and social skills necessary to be actively engaged in school. Use effective classroom management and teaching methods to foster a positive learning environment. Provide professional development an support for teachers & other school staff to enable them to meet the diverse cognitive, emotional, and social needs of students. Create trusting and caring relationships that promote open communication among administrators, teachers, staff, students, families, and communities.

School Climate A school’s climate is its atmosphere for learning. It includes the feelings people have about the school and whether it is a place where learning can occur. A positive climate makes a school a place where both staff and students want to spend a substantial portion of their time; it is a good place to be. Howard, Howell, and Brainard (1987)

In Collaboration with… Importance of Positive School Climate A positive school climate is an integral component of an effective school. School environment has a strong influence on the way students develop and learn. School climate is an alterable variable that can affect various outcomes. Improving school climate is a preventative approach, rather than reactive or remedial.

Alliance for the Study of School Climate

Dimensions of School Climate Safety Rules & Norms Sense of Physical Security Sense of Social-Emotional Security Teaching & Learning Support for Learning Social & Civic Learning Interpersonal Relationships Respect for Diversity Social Support – Adults Social Support – Students Institutional Environment School Connectedness/Engagement Physical Surroundings

Youth Risk Behavior Survey

In Collaboration with… Student Engagement

What students want from education… Real-world application & relevance Choice Innovation Teacher mentors Interactive technology

Lifelong Learning Skills Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, & Creativity Self-Regulation, Conscientiousness, Mind-Sets, & Motivation Social and Emotional Skills

Supporting and Engaging Students

MTSS for Attendance

Early Intervention is Critical! Disengagement is a gradual process that includes impaired or reduced participation, less successful outcomes, and reduced identification and belonging. Identifying students at first signs of disengagement significantly improves the likelihood of reengagement and successful school completion. Shift from a focus of preventing negative outcomes, such as dropout, to promoting student competence and support.

Early Warning System Indicators IndicatorElementaryMiddle SchoolHigh School AttendanceMissed 10% or of instructional time Missed 10% or more of instructional time Missed 10% of instructional time One absences within the first 20 days in 9th Referrals & Suspension Two or more behavior referrals AND/OR One or more referrals with suspension Two or more behavior referrals AND/OR One or more referrals with suspension Two or more behavior referrals AND/OR One or more referrals with suspension Course FailuresNot proficient in reading by third grade Failed mathematics or ELA course. Failed two courses in any subject. In 9 th grade: two failed courses or failed to progress on time to 10 th. Credits/GPAsGPA < 2.0 RetentionsRetained pursuant to s ,F.S. On Track for Success: The Use of Early Warning Indicators and Intervention Systems to Build a Grad Nation.

Power of Positive Connections – The PEOPLE Approach Priority: Focuses on at-risk students with high levels of chronic absence. Early: Begins with the start of school. Outreach: Promotes preventive, supportive approaches rather than punitive responses. Linkages: Taps the full community for support. Engagement: Motivates showing up to class an offers students and families a role in improving attendance.

Resources Everyone Graduates Center National High School Center – Early Warning Systems Safe Supportive Learning National Center for School Engagement National School Climate Center Alliance for the Study of School Climate Center for Study of School Climate