Every Day Counts! Reducing Chronic Absenteeism

“When they don’t come to school….what can you do?”

Jane E. Mills, Director

Student Services

Palm Springs Unified School District

February 23, 2015

Where do we begin?

Introductions

Share one reason that you believe is a root cause for Chronic Absenteeism in your community.

Chronic Absenteeism….changing our paradigm.

Blending and Maximizing Resources◦ Title I Funding - Homeless◦ Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP)◦ Coordinated Early Intervention Services (CEIS)◦ General Fund◦ English Learner Programs and Services◦ PTO/PTA groups◦ Local partnerships – Probation, DPSS, Private Non-

Profits◦ Media – Public Service Announcements◦ Health Services◦ Mental Health Services

How are you using your resources?

How are you using your resources to increase parent engagement and increase attendance?

Palm Springs Unified School District

FrameworkOutreach – Community Liaisons

Mentoring – Prevention Specialists

Information – Calls, letters, meetings

Support – Parenting, Connection to Community Resources

Outreach

“Ensure that parents are provided information to

monitor the impacts on their children of the schools’

services and programs…..

Recommendation 6: “Reparable Harm: Fulfilling the Unkept Promise of Educational Opportunity for California’s Long Term English Learners”

Palm Springs Unified School District

School/Community Liaison

Communicates with parents concerning attendance irregularities;

Acts as an advocate for students and parents during hearings and proceedings;

Acts as a liaison between school and community; provides information on services available to eligible students and families;

Conveys information regarding school and/or district activities and procedures; and refers families to other agencies.

Mentoring

Relationships matter.

“I need to know someone cares — not just about my homework being turned in, not just about my scores, but about ME and my education.”

“Reparable Harm: Fulfilling the Unkept Promise of Educational Opportunity for California’s Long Term English Learners”

Palm Springs Unified School District

Prevention SpecialistAssists with the instruction of

students in substance abuse and intervention education programs;

Disseminates information to students, staff and to the community regarding substance abuse awareness and other self defeating behaviors that are barriers to education.

Provides support for students experiencing academic and motivational challenges.

Information

“Did You Know”…lettersMorning Calls AND Afternoon

CallsWeekly Chronic Abs. list to

schoolsWeekly monitoring of attendance

ratesMonthly Community Network

meetings

SupportParenting classesFocus on homeless and foster

students resources and servicesPlacement meetings for new

students coming late in the school year.

Re-entry meetings for students coming back from juvenile detention

Bullying Reporting System (SPRIGEO)

Ideas for a framework to address Chronic Absenteeism

Strategies Promoting School Attendance

Strategies for Parent Engagement

Strategies to address social, health and economic conditions.

Strategies to Improve the Quality of Education

Newsletters Classes Committees Easy Access to

Student Information System

Parent Centers Network

Meetings Home Visits Morning and

Afternoon Attendance Calls

Youth Accountability Team support

District Parent Coordinator

School Attendance as a District Goal

Common Core Implementation

Essential Student Support

Linked Learning and Career Academies

Alternative Education Options

Efficient and Open Transfer Process

School attendance rate included in Principal evaluation

Community Liaison Team

Homeless/Foster Specialist

Home Visits

Chronic Absences Check

Youth as Caregivers focus

Prevention Specialists

Target “Essential Students” for mentoring

Health Services Team

Coordinated effort with Community Liaisons and Prevention Specialists

District operated Mental Health Services

Community Based Org. on Campuses –Counseling and Health focus

Monthly Community Network meetings

On-line Bullying Reporting system

Law Enforcement and Probation Services

Positive Incentives

Positive Calls Auto Dialer Calls Strategic Letters

Home Articles in

Newsletters Home Visits SART – Sites Chronic Absence

data review Unexcused

Absence data review

Truancy Notification letters

SARB District Attorney

Interventions Prosecution

A thought for the challenging work

you do for children and families….

“Keep on going and chances are you will stumble upon something,

perhaps when you are least expecting it. I’ve never heard of anyone stumbling on something

sitting down.”

Mental Floss, M. Gellis