Does Attendance Really Count in Our Community?

Results from Lunchtime Self-Assessment Facilitated by Hedy Nai-Lin Chang

Attendees participated in the Community Self-Assessment facilitated by Hedy Chang of Attendance Works on September 25, 2013 at the Community Literacy Summit 2013 which was held at Aquinas College. The self-assessment was conducted in the Wege Ballroom during lunch.

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1. We are aware of what is chronic absence and why it is important to work together to monitor and intervene when students are missing 10% or more of

school for any reason.

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2. We know how many students are chronically absent overall and by grade (starting in K) and have determined which schools, preschools, and populations

are most affected.

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3. Our school district(s) regularly shares and reviews chronic absence data with key community stakeholders to identify implications for action and resource

allocation.

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4. We are raising awareness of all community members, especially parents and students, about the importance of building the habit of going to school every

day matters starting in kindergarten & preschool.

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5. We are working together to build a culture of attendance by recognizing and offering incentives for good and improved attendance.

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6. We reach out to chronically absent children & their families and find out what would help to improve their attendance.

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7. We only use legal action as a last resort to intervene after less expensive, positive supports have failed.

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8. We provide professional development to help educate administrators, teachers, support staff & community partners understand why chronic absence

matters & how they can help improve attendance.

Steps our community could take to move forward: 1. Continue to support our PTA & principals to stress the importance of attendance.

2. Greet & know the children in our children’s schools.

3. Highlight & appreciate commitment of school attendance for our tutoring students.

4. More rewards for good and improved attendance.

5. More community awareness & involvement.

6. Better communication with stakeholders.

7. Make sure each school and principal complies with attendance standards.

8. Provide professional development for administrators, teachers, support staff & community partners.

9. Enforce laws, use legal action when children are chronically absent.

10. Continue to raise awareness of chronic absenteeism.

11. Help parents, especially of pre-K & K students to set good habits early.

12. Education should be a privilege with stipulations—not only a right.

13. Hold higher standards.

14. More realistic standards & testing – evaluating.

15. Make this a priority, visible message among community leaders.

16. Make a priority to community through students & parents.

17. Make data and “bright spots” easily, publicly accessible.

18. Improve outreach.

19. Help educate adults who are not currently working / living with children.

20. Volunteer to mentor a student.

21. Learn more about how this issue affects our communities and share the knowledge with friends and co-workers.

22. More money.

23. Make a Vine—“What you’ll miss…” from an innovative teacher

24. Paving the way to success—showing initiative so kids can get to school on time.

25. Have struggling parents be paired with a mentor.

26. Spread the word about attendance initiatives.

27. Share my knowledge and ideas with others.

28. In training teachers, include strategies for engagement & communication with stakeholders.

29. More education to the community.

30. Constructing broad and authentic neighborhood engagement/family engagement.

31. Working with community partners.

32. Education policy change.

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9. We have set measurable and achievable goals for improving attendance and reducing chronic absence.