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
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