E3 alliance food for thought the attendance challenge 7.17.12

E3 Alliance Food for Thought:

The Central Texas Attendance Challenge July 17, 2012

WELCOME!

#E3allianceFFT

facebook.com/E3Alliance.org

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What we’ll talk about today

• Alarming data and research about student absences in Central Texas

• Share attendance improvement key learnings from Central Texas school districts

• Hear what students say about chronic absences

• Announce a cutting-edge attendance campaign

• Get your feedback and answer your questions!

Data Analysis, Focus Groups, Collaborative Design and Logic Modeling

Supported by:

WHAT DOES THE DATA TELL US ABOUT ABSENCES IN OUR REGION?

Amy Wiseman, Ph.D., E3 Alliance Sr. Research Associate

Overview

• Absences: Who, what, where, when and how many

• Academic outcomes that correlate with poor attendance

• What we can do about it

What do we Mean by Absences?

• Student not at school when attendance taken

• Does not matter if excused or unexcused

– School loses funding for that student that day

• Exceptions:

– At school board sanctioned activity

– At Doctor’s appointment with note

– About 10 additional reasons

• Chronic absenteeism: miss 10% or more days

Source: Texas Education Code © 2012 E3 Alliance

? Absences in Central Texas per

Year

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data at UT Education Research Center; 2010-2011 school year. © 2012 E3 Alliance

2.4 Million Absences in Central Texas per

Year

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data at UT Education Research Center; 2010-2011 school year. © 2012 E3 Alliance

Half of Central Texas Students Miss Six or More Class Days per Year

Percentage of Students

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data at UT Education Research Center.

5 or Fewer

Missed Days

6 or More

Missed Days

© 2012 E3 Alliance

5 or Fewer

Missed Days

6 or More

Missed Days

85% of Absences

15%

Percentage of Students Percentage of Absences

But Account for 85% of all Absences

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data at UT Education Research Center. © 2012 E3 Alliance

The Fewest Absences are in Grades 3 to 5


0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

KG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Ave

rage

Day

s A

bse

nt

Grade

Absences in Central Texas 2009-10

Central Texas

Texas

Central Texas has More Absences than Texas on Average


0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

KG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Ave

rage

Day

s A

bse

nt

Grade

Absences in 2009-10

Central Texas

Texas

High School Students Miss More than Two Weeks

6.6 7.4

11.3

0

5

10

15

Elementary School Middle School High School

Ave

rage

Day

s A

bse

nt

Days Absent in Central Texas in 2009-10


The Jump in Absences Happens Between 8th and 9th Grade

7 8

8

11 10

11

14

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Ave

rage

Day

s A

bse

nt

Grade

Absences in Central Texas, 2009-2010


3 Days

More

Areas of Austin ISD with the Most Middle School Absences Primarily East of I35

Source: Children’s Optimal Health

© 2012 E3 Alliance

Chronic Absenteeism in High School Spread Across Much of District

Source: Children’s Optimal Health

© 2012 E3 Alliance

Student with Lowest Income Miss Most Days

9 11

15

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Non-low Income Reduced Price Lunch Free Lunch

Ave

rage

Day

s A

bse

nt

Absences Central Texas High Schools, 2009-10

© 2012 E3 Alliance Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data at UT Education Research Center.

Asian Students Miss Fewest Days of School

6

13 14

9

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Asian Black Hispanic White

Ave

rage

Day

s A

bse

nt



Poorest Students Have Six Additional Absences on Average

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data at UT Education Research Center.

5 6 7

10 10

16

12 11

16

8

11

15

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Non-Low Income Reduced Price Lunch Free Lunch

Ave

rage

Day

s A

bse

nt


Asian Black Hispanic White

© 2012 E3 Alliance

WHAT OUTCOMES CORRELATE WITH POOR ATTENDANCE?

© 2012 E3 Alliance

Grade 9 Retention is Dramatic

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

PK KG Gr1 Gr2 Gr3 Gr4 Gr5 Gr6 Gr7 Gr8 Gr9 Gr10 Gr11 Gr12

Stu

den

t En

rollm

ent

2010-11 Central Texas Students

9th Grade Bubble


Grade 9 Retention is Dramatic

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

PK KG Gr1 Gr2 Gr3 Gr4 Gr5 Gr6 Gr7 Gr8 Gr9 Gr10 Gr11 Gr12

Stu

den

t En

rollm

ent

2010-11 Central Texas Students

Retained Students


Retained Students had Four Times More Absences

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data at UT Education Research Center; First time 9th graders in 2006-7

24

6

0

5

10

15

20

25

Retained in 9th Promoted to 10th

Ave

rage

Day

s A

bse

nt

Status in Next School Year

Absences for First Time 9th Graders

© 2012 E3 Alliance

Only 17% of Retained Freshmen Passed TAKS Math

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%


Perc

en

tage

Pas

sin

g TA

KS


TAKS Math Passing Rate

57-point difference

17%

74%

© 2012 E3 Alliance Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data at UT Education Research Center; First time 9th graders in 2006-7

Students Retained in 9th Grade 10X More Likely to Drop Out

18.3%

1.7%

0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

20%


Perc

enta

ge o

f 9

th G

rad

e C

oh

ort


Percentage of Cohort that Dropped Out

10X Difference


10% of First Time Freshmen are Retained

Retained in 9th 10%

Promoted to 10th

90%

2007-8 Student status


The 10% Retained 9th Graders Account for Half of Dropouts

Retained in 9th 10%

Promoted to 10th

90%

2007-8 Student status

Retained in 9th 49%

Promoted to 10th

51%

Dropouts by retention status


Absences and 9th Grade Retention

Correspond to Dropping Out

22

6

33

14

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35


Ave

rage

Day

s A

bse

nt


Absences During Grade 9

Not dropout

Dropout


3 DAYS =

$34 MILLION

WHAT CAN WE DO TO INCREASE ATTENDANCE?

National Literature Review Shows Patterns but Little Evidence

• School based, clinic/community based and court based interventions somewhat effective

– But do not differ in overall effectiveness

• Student based behavioral strategies effective

– Contracting, incentives, social skills training

– Even more effective with parent training

• School based attendance groups also effective

• Mentoring and family therapy not very effective

Source: Maynard et al. (2011) Meta-analysis of interventions to increase school attendance © 2012 E3 Alliance

Need to Know the ‘Why’ on Absences

• Broad categories of absences (Balfanz & Byrnes, 2012)

– Can’t – illness or other responsibilities

– Don’t – school refusers often due to bullying

– Won’t – skipping

• Need to know the ‘Why’ in Central Texas

– Working on getting absence reason codes from partner school districts

© 2012 E3 Alliance

Future Research and Analysis

• Reason Code analysis – Specific reason code frequency and pattern

– Mapped to programs or interventions we control

• Regional mapping of hotspots by Children’s Optimal Health

• Longitudinal Tracking of absences

• Relationship between student and teacher absenteeism

• Working with partners to obtain funding

© 2012 E3 Alliance

Launching Attendance Campaign Based on Data

• Worst attendance in High School

• Jump in absences between 8th and 9th grade

• No gender differences in attendance

• Targeting all children in 7th through 10th grades

– Begins before jump in absences and continues through High School when easier to influence

© 2012 E3 Alliance

CONVERSATION AND QUESTIONS

IMPROVING STUDENT ATTENDANCE: WHAT CAN WE DO?

Rick L’Amie, Director of Communications, E3 Alliance

© 2012 E3 Alliance

Background

• Central Texas superintendents chose increased attendance as #1 way community and funders could assist districts: 1. “Triple Bottom Line” benefit:

• Students can learn when in class

• Teachers have more time to teach

• Increased revenue to districts

2. Unlike teacher quality or curriculum, communities can directly contribute to student and district success

• E3 Alliance spearheading regional approach to increase attendance

© 2012 E3 Alliance

Vicious or Virtuous Cycle?

© 2012 E3 Alliance

Student

Absences

Poor

Academic

Achievement

Low income

Shorter lifespan

Unhealthy behavior

FOCUSING ON ATTENDANCE: KEY LEARNINGS

Inventory of Local Districts (ongoing)

• Leander: Hope Committee

– 5 consecutive days absent at any grade triggers response by district “Hope Committee”

– Adults problem solve with student to stay in school

• Austin: Multi-faceted investigation

– Working through ACCESS project

– Elementary: Families move & don’t re-enroll

– Secondary: Students work to support families & what that actually means!

© 2012 E3 Alliance

Pflugerville Attendance Effort • Started in Fall 2011; informed by H-E-B ISD program

• Central message & outreach: Attendance: It Counts!

– Posters + magnets + messages on campus & district mail

– Tied-in funding message: 1% gain gets us over $1M!

• Two full-time attendance outreach coordinators

– Identify students, notify parents, home visits, family interventions, truancy court

– On site @ each MS & HS campus 1 day/week

• Consolidated 3 truancy courts to 1 (Judge Bass)

• Major take-aways:

© 2012 E3 Alliance

− Follow-through creates community buzz

− Relationships are crucial

District Attendance Survey

• Approximately 2/3 of respondents have done some kind of attendance campaign in the last six years

• The main messages of attendance campaigns: – Student Success is Directly Related to Student Attendance

– District Funding is Directly Related to Student Attendance

• Campaigns included: – Parent communications, campus data collection, community “sweeps”

for missing students, home visits, hiring of attendance specialists, partnerships with courts, robocalls, etc.

Most respondents felt that their campaign worked, but they do not have

the data to support it

Outcome:

Regional Attendance Insights

• Austin ISD – 6 days > mobility

• Leander ISD – 10 days = dropouts

• Hays CISD – Reporting out absence data to campuses

• Del Valle ISD – Teacher absences = student absences

© 2012 E3 Alliance

WHAT DO STUDENTS THINK?

Student Focus Groups

• E3 Alliance conducted student focus groups in Pflugerville middle and high school AVID classes and with rural and urban CIS high school students

• Asked about:

1. attendance awareness & attitudes

2. media/entertainment attitudes & opinions

© 2012 E3 Alliance

Student Focus Groups • CIS High School Students

– Think “skipping” is big problem

• Drags down class; material has to be repeated

• Being in class creates responsible job habits

• Need education to get a job

– Why do kids miss school?

• Bad influences, hang with a bad crowd

• No positive pressure at home to attend

• Classes too long, boring

• Have to work

• Care for family

• Transportation not the cause

© 2012 E3 Alliance


• CIS High School Students

– Think a campaign might help increase attendance

• Has to be relevant; not stupid

• Robocalls might work – Celebrities/singers – hip hop

– Not athletes

• Incentives would work – Concerts

– Food

• Peer pressure would work

• Posters & contests wouldn’t work

© 2012 E3 Alliance


• Pflugerville AVID High School Students

– Aware that chronic absences are a problem

• Schools don’t get paid if kids go missing

• That means extra curricular, specialty courses might get cut

– Attending school is important

• Learn, get an education

• Make more money; be successful

• Won’t be able to go to college if you skip school and drop out

© 2012 E3 Alliance


• Pflugerville AVID High School Students

– What would work to increase attendance?

• Day care on campus

• Announcements

• Music/rap contests

• Group discussions

• Incentives: food, music

• Celebrity calls probably wouldn’t work

© 2012 E3 Alliance


• Pflugerville AVID Middle School Students

– Aware that chronic attendance is a problem

– Causes include

• Bullying

• Good excuse to turn in late assignments

• Care for sick family members

• Have to work

• Peer pressure

– More open to traditional school outreach

© 2012 E3 Alliance

WHAT’S THE PLAN?

A Two-Pronged Approach

School,

Systems

Changes

Community

Outreach

Healthcare

resources & access

for students

Changes in school

and district

systems

Broad awareness &

education outreach

Targeted attendance

campaign to

adolescents &

parents

• Target “low hanging fruit”

• Thru business & partners

• Print media, op eds

• 3 Days = $34M!!

• Target 7th-10th graders & parents

• Relevant, targeted messages

• Radio, billboards, social media

• Tied to events, robocalls

• TBD based on reason codes,

Lit reviews, local data:

incentives, engaged teaching,

hired attendance staff, etc.

• TBD based on reason codes,

Access to partners

Leverage RWJF grant

1

2

3

4

© 2012 E3 Alliance

A 7-week challenge to improve attendance rates and motivate students

…using a mix of sizzle and substance

Targeted Attendance Campaign

• Partnerhips

– Incite “social impact marketing” unit of Emmis Communications

• KLBJ AM/FM, BOB FM, “La Z” 107.1, 101X, KGSR, Comedy

– Get Schooled • National not for profit with successful track record

– E3 Alliance and Member school districts

• AISD, Bastrop, Del Valle, Hays, Leander, Pflugerville, Round Rock, San Marcos

Incite Targeted Attendance Campaign

• Audiences

– Students in 7-10 grades

– Parents of at-risk students

– Educators (School leadership, teachers, guidance counselors, etc.)

– Community at-large (businesses, government entities, influencers, etc.)

Targeted Attendance Campaign

Goals – Elevate awareness about the importance of attendance

among participating middle and high school students, teachers and parents

– Improve attendance and inspire student engagement in the participating middle and high schools

– Connect with new and existing community based partnerships aimed at boosting attendance across the Central Texas community

SIZZLE So how does it work?

Activations and Attendance = Winner

• Wake Up Calls

• Nominate an Inspiring Teacher

• On the Hunt

• iPlay

Activations and Attendance = Winner

• Students earn points each time they participate in an activation

• Motivated by incentives, internal activities

• “Winning” school will be determined based on engagement points and attendance gains

– Regional

– National

Fall 2011 Attendance Challenge

17 states represented

88 schools participating

90,000 students involved

Attendance Challenge Timeline

• Phase One: July - August

– Coordinate with districts and campuses

– Incite to coordinate media buys/sponsor

– Facilitate broad awareness outreach partnerships

• Phase Two: August - October

– Aug 27 – Create BUZZ: Wake up calls launch, early promotion

• Phase Three: Attendance Challenge

– Oct. 1 to Dec. 7 • Attendance Challenge

• Radio outreach and promotions

Attendance Challenge Timeline

• Phase Four: December- January

– December • Calculate scores

– December - January • Regional winner and events

• National winner and “prize”

What’s Next?

• Campaign is just the beginning

• More research & analysis needed

• Collaboration around best practices in schools, justice and health infrastructure

Need community & corporate support behind campaign & media outreach

• Ultimate goals:

Improved student performance

Increased financial support to schools

THIRD GRADE READING: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER FOR SUCCESS

The Next Food For Thought: Wed. Sept. 19

#E3allianceFFT

facebook.com/E3Alliance.org

E3alliance.org

http://www.facebook.com/E3Alliance.org

E3 alliance food for thought the attendance challenge 7.17.12

Education

Transcript of E3 alliance food for thought the attendance challenge 7.17.12