Community Involvement for Student Success

 Our community is directly impacted by the level of academic achievement of students in our district. As families and businesses consider relocation, the school district is a primary focus.  The community and school must work together to promote a high value on education.  The high schools are currently rated by TEA as Academically Unacceptable.  This is a call for help to ensure Victoria is a community where education and businesses can flourish.

 Students must complete a minimum of 26 credits to graduate. Of these, 16 are core requirements.  New TEA assessment standards require higher order thinking skills. Students are being taught and tested at a greater depth and level of cognitive complexity.  Student absenteeism significantly impairs the student’s ability to meet these standards.

 Attendance Rate: 90.1%  Attendance Rate: 89.1%  Attendance Rate: 89.9%  Attendance Rate: 90.6%  Attendance Rate: 91.3%  Approximately 3300 students are enrolled in our high schools.  On an average day, approximately 300 students are absent. One missed class is equivalent to two days on the block schedule.

 High level of poverty  Pregnancy/teen parents  High rate of student mobility  Homelessness  Family conflict  Lack of parental support  Unaccompanied youth  Peer influences  Drugs and alcohol  Student employment hours  Lack of transportation

 Learning/academic gaps  Student failure rate/state assessment  Drop-out rate  Federal and state accountability  District funding  Increased opportunities for illegal activities  Lack of quality workforce  Economic health of the community

Fall 2011 Parent Contact Home Visits Campus event Attendance Incentives Social Services Referrals Warning Letters Issued Statutory Warnings Issued Cases Filed and Present to JP Court Leavers Tracked Total January Total *East and West High School Attendance Liaison Efforts

 Teacher contacts  Automated call system  Written notification of absences  Parent/student conferences  Home visits  Clothing/food/school supplies  Truancy sweep/van  Attendance contracts  Statutory warnings  Truancy court

 Community and VISD mentors  Attendance incentives  Communities In Schools  STAR Program/Gulf Bend Services  Mid-Coast Family Services  Kidz Connection  Family Connection  Destiny Consulting  AVID  Extra-curricular/clubs/organizations

“Our project would be wildly successful if everyone in the community felt a sense of obligation to help just one student.”

 What are your ideas on how we can work together to create a strong educational community?  What are your ideas for improving student attendance?