1. Director of Data and Research,
Presented September 8, 2017, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the Every Day Matters: Building School-Based Plans to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism Conference
Getting Into It
Deborah Good
Director of Data and Research,
Mission: Graduate

2. Team Activities
Process Mapping
Data Review
Factor Analysis

3. Step Into Your Students’ Shoes
“We spend a lot time designing the bridge,
but not enough time thinking about
the people who are crossing it.”
– Dr. Prabhjot Singh Director of Systems Design at the Earth Institute

4. Process Mapping What Is a Process?
A series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end or outcome.

5. Process Mapping What Is a Process? What Is a Process Map?
A series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end or outcome.
What Is a Process Map?
A process map is a visual tool that illustrates the flow of actions from start to finish.

6. Process Mapping

7. Process Mapping
Macro to Micro
Example: Getting to work on time

8. Process Mapping TEAM TIME (10 mins)
Your Assignment
Map the process of a student getting to school.
Tips
Identify where the process starts and stops.
Brainstorm the steps of the process.
Write each step of your process on post-it notes.
Determine the order.
Map what actually happens, not what SHOULD happen.
Back at school: Consider creating a process map for how your school responds when a student is absent.

9. Data: Hammer or Flashlight?
Moving beyond accountability opens the door to a vast array of opportunities to use data as a flashlight, shining a light on what is working and fueling continuous improvement.”
“Too often in education data is seen as a hammer—a tool of accountability to ensure that targets are being met
- DATA QUALITY CAMPAIGN

10. Ask WHO is chronically absent?
Data Review
Why does an attendance team use data?
Ask WHO is chronically absent?

11. Ask WHO is chronically absent?
Data Review
Why does an attendance team use data?
Ask WHO is chronically absent?

12. Ask WHO is chronically absent? Ask WHY are they chronically absent?
Data Review
Why does an attendance team use data?
Ask WHO is chronically absent?
Ask WHY are they chronically absent?
Student Survey

13. Ask WHO is chronically absent? Ask WHY are they chronically absent?
Data Review
Why does an attendance team use data?
Ask WHO is chronically absent?
Ask WHY are they chronically absent?
Ask WHAT are we doing about it?
Ask IS IT WORKING?

14. Data Review TEAM TIME (10 mins)
Your Assignment
Discuss the data you have and complete the Data Review section of your Attendance Success Plan.*
* If you do not have data with you today, we will provide you with fake data.
Tips
Ask each other: What is interesting? What surprises you?
As you discuss each data point, begin to form hypotheses about why different student groups have higher absenteeism.
Do you have concerns about the accuracy of the data? What steps might you take to improve data accuracy?
Identify what more you need to know.
Back at school: Undertake additional data collection or analysis to answer your questions.

15. Factor Analysis What Is Factor Analysis? A.K.A. root cause analysis
A process for identifying possible causes of an outcome.
Avoid band-aid fixes
Methods:
5 Whys
Pareto Charts
Fishbone diagrams
Tally sheets

16. At each step . . .
. . . Identify what could go wrong.

17. Reduced Chronic Absenteeism
Factor Analysis
Key Driver Diagram
Supportive factors
Peer-to-peer support
Sports and extra-curricular activities
Culturally relevant curriculum
Safe schools
Outcomes:
Improved reading skills
Improved reliability
Improved graduation rates
Reduced Chronic Absenteeism
Barriers
Lack of transportation options
Parents working evening and night shifts
Health and mental health (trauma)
Transitions between elem, middle, and high

18. Factor Analysis TEAM TIME (10 mins)
Your Assignment
In the Root Cause/Factor Analysis section of your Attendance Success Plan, start to list the barriers and supportive factors that affect attendance rates at your school.
Tips
Look at your process map. At each step, ask: “What could/does go wrong? What can/does prevent absences?”
Look at your data review. What is your best guess as to why some students are missing too much school while others are succeeding?
Think about your own experiences and your conversations with students and families. What barriers do they face? What do they find helpful?
Back at school: Among all factors you identified, work as a team to select those that are most important and within your circle of influence.