2019 Chronic Absence Resource Guide

United Way of Southwest Virginia 2019 Chronic Absence Resource Guide

BCHS battling chronic absenteeism Jasmine Dent Franks | Staff

Apr 1, 2019

Attendance is essential to any student’s education. They can’t learn if they’re not present for instruction and if they don’t learn their chances of academic success plummet. This year, though, chronic absenteeism could cost more than just those who miss and the price could be more than just individual educations.

Changes to the standards of accreditation for Virginia schools took effect this school year. Prior to this year, schools were evaluated on how well they performed on Standards of Learning tests (SOLs). Now, chronic absenteeism and achievement gaps will also be taken into consideration during evaluations.

“This is the first year attendance counts as part of the accreditation,” said Bland County High School Principal Jill Hopkins. “We’re so small, everybody has to comply. We don’t have a lot of room for error.”

At every school board meeting for the last several months, Hopkins has reported that the high school is battling chronic absenteeism. In some cases,

students have missed as many as 30 days this school year. During the March 12 meeting, she told board members that the school was still working to reign in habitual absences.

Parents have been contacted, letters sent home and, in some cases, paperwork has been filed with the court system.

“We send out letters every week, religiously,” she told the board. “And we’ve been meeting with social services and Todd Scott with the court system.”

According to data from the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, the elementary and high schools combined have had 10 truancy intake complaints so far this school year. Last year, they had zero.

In comparison, Wythe County schools have had 8 truancy intake complaints and Tazewell County has had 40. With only 719 students, Bland County student membership is dwarfed by that of its neighbors. Tazewell County, for example has more than seven times as many students, and only four times as many complaints.

Virginia law requires children between the ages of 5 and 18 to attend school.

Parents or guardians of those who do not comply could be charged with a class three misdemeanor.

Half of the complaints filed this year in Bland County were petitioned and will go through the court system. The other half was diverted away from the court system, meaning that the complaints were either resolved, unfounded or handled with a diversion plan. That number doesn’t include cases resolved outside the legal system. Hopkins reported during the meeting that the high school alone had already had a total of 17.

“Our goal is really just for students to come to school and we try to work with families first,” Hopkins explained.

To meet the attendance requirements for accreditation, the number of students with chronic absences cannot exceed a 15 percent overall average.

Chronic absences are defined as missing 10 percent or more of the school year. That includes both excused and unexcused absences. For a 180-day school year that would allow students 18 absences per year before they are considered chronically absent.

To put it into perspective, Hopkins told the board to consider the size of the senior class.

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“We’re so small, when you see how many seniors we have, if they miss more than that—which they are—that would mean everybody else would need to be in compliance. We don’t have a lot of room for error.”

Last year, the school averaged 10.9 percent, which was down from nearly 20 percent high during the 2014-15 school year. Requests for this year’s current average have gone unanswered.

Despite the new attendance criteria for accreditation, BCHS is in no immediate danger of losing accreditation, a Virginia Department of Education official said last week.

“No school is denied accreditation under the new system unless they refuse to make a good faith effort to implement a directive action plan,” said Charles Pyle, a VDOE spokesperson.

He explained that a school would have to show no progress for three consecutive years with no effort to correct the issue. Schools could, however, be demoted from a fully accredited institution to a conditionally accredited institution. Bland County Schools received full accreditation status in 2016.

Hopkins and her staff at the high school have been working to help students understand the increased importance of attendance.

“Our teachers work really hard and our students work really hard. We don’t want something like attendance to keep us from being accredited,” she said.

The school has a teacher who dedicates a period during the school day to keeping up with attendance and sending home notices to parents. Letters are sent home at three, five and eight absences. At eight unexcused absences, students are referred to a truancy officer.

Hopkins said she will continue to work with students and parents to try to resolve chronic unexcused absence issues outside of the court system, but those with continued noncompliance will be referred to court services.

She seemed optimistic about improvement, though. Now that the school year is starting to wind down, she told the board that students were starting to realize the gravity of the issue.

“I talked to them at the beginning of the year, but now that it’s getting serious, they’re like ‘whoa, what’s going on.’”

Bland County schools have about two months left in the 2018-19 school year to correct the problem.

Jasmine Dent Franks can be reached at jfranks@wythenews.com.

Attendance Plan 2018-2019 Gate City High School Attendance Committee Advisors The attendance committee will mentor/advise students who had 18 or more absences during the previous school year. Each member will meet with assigned students at the beginning of the year to outline the new requirements and then on an as needed basis to discuss attendance and address concerns. Faculty members will be asked to volunteer as attendance advisors. Committee members and other faculty will receive principal hours for their time.

Coaches Coaches will be notified that the office will be asking for their help to address attendance concerns with their student athletes.

Attendance Notice to Parents Gate City High School will send home attendance letters on the first day of school addressing the changes to the attendance policy.

Advising Parents of New Requirements – 9​th​ Grade Orientation New attendance requirements will be presented to 9​th​ grade parents and students at orientation.

Advising Students of New Requirements – First Day of School On the first day of school (during 1​st​ block), teachers will present a PP to students outlining the new requirements. Administration will also meet with each grade level to discuss attendance.

Early Dismissals – 18 year old Gate City High School will add the following statement to local school rules regarding early dismissals for 18 year old students: ●

A parent/guardian must be present or a note must be verified prior to the 8:19 AM tardy bell for a student to be dismissed early from school EVEN IF THEY ARE 18 YEARS OF AGE.

Rewards ●

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Monthly o Athletic Event Pass:​ Students with perfect attendance each month will receive one free pass to a GC regular season athletic event (home game; one time use only;) o Food City Gift Card:​ Students with perfect attendance for each month will be entered into a drawing to win a Food City gift card. Picture with FC representative will be sent to the local paper each month and in GC yearbook.

Semester o Cash Prize Drawing:​ Students with 5 or fewer absences during the 1​st​ semester will be entered into a drawing for cash prizes. Drawing will be on the last day of the 1​st semester. (2 X $50 drawings) o Cash Prize Drawing: ​Students with 5 or fewer absences during the 2​nd​ semester will be entered into a drawing for cash prizes. Drawing will be on the last day of 2​nd​ semester. (2 X $50 drawings) Yearly

Attendance Plan 2018-2019 Gate City High School o

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Prom Ticket Drawing:​ Juniors and seniors with 10 or fewer absences up until the Thursday before prom will be entered into a drawing for a free prom ticket (10 drawings).

Car Drawing:​ Fairway Ford has agreed to donate a car for the grand prize.

Announcement will be made to students during the first week of school. Local newspapers, television stations, school board members, and central office staff will be invited. During home football and basketball games, an announcement will be made about the donation. The car will be on display at home football games and at the homecoming basketball game. GCHS will use social media and the school web site to promote the partnership. Students will have five opportunities for a chance to win the car: perfect attendance during each nine weeks period and perfect attendance for the year. Drawing will be held on the last day of school. Students must also have less than 5 early dismissals and less than 5 tardies to be eligible for the drawing.

Scholarship:​ Seniors with perfect attendance during the first semester of school will be entered into a drawing for a $500 scholarship. Two scholarships will be given to one boy and one girl. Fairway Ford is sponsoring the scholarship. A representative from Fairway Ford will present the scholarship at the basketball homecoming game. Students must also have less than 5 early dismissals and less than 5 tardies to be eligible for the drawing. Students are only eligible to win one scholarship per year.

Scholarship: ​Seniors with perfect attendance during the second semester of school will be entered into a drawing for a $500 scholarship. Two scholarships will be given to one boy and one girl. Fairway Ford is sponsoring the scholarship. A representative from Fairway Ford will present the scholarship at awards day. Students must also have less than 5 early dismissals and less than 5 tardies to be eligible for the drawing. Students are only eligible to win one scholarship per year.

Absences Defined An absence is defined as missing an entire school day for any reason (including doctor excuses).

Tardy Policy Tardy is defined as not being in the classroom before the bell rings. Teachers have the discretion to require that students be in their seats before the bell stops ringing.

Unexcused School Tardy Consequences (per semester): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7+

Warning Warning Warning 1 day of After-School Detention 2 days of After-School Detention 1 day of ISS Alternative Education placement for 3+ days will be considered.

Attendance Plan 2018-2019 Gate City High School Early Dismissal Policy A parent/guardian must be present or a note must be verified by the tardy bell for a student to be dismissed early from school EVEN IF THEY ARE 18 YEARS OR OLDER. Unexcused Early Dismissal Consequences (per semester): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7+

Warning Warning Warning 1 day of After-School Detention 2 days of After-School Detention 1 day of ISS Alternative Education placement for 3+ days will be considered.

Class Tardy Policy Teachers will notify the office when a student is tardy to class the 3​rd​ time. Consequences will be as follows: Class Tardy Consequences (per semester): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7+

Warning Teacher Assigned Consequence Teacher Assigned Consequence 1 day of After-School Detention 2 days of After-School Detention 1 day of ISS Alternative Education placement for 3+ days will be considered.

Additional Considerations: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Write up for newspapers Invite media to announcement Invite school board members and central office Set up microphone Get emcee & write up how to announce Music?

Contact SCCTC about storing vehicle Get someone to bring get car for all home football & basketball games Write announcement for home games Miss GC ride in car in parade?

Banner/Sign to put up at games to thank Fairway Ford Picture with FC rep for newspaper Make portfolio of media Add to website

KINGSPORT NEWS

Gate City High students with good attendance could win scholarships, Ford Focus HOLLY VIERS • AUG 16, 2018 AT 5:30 PM

hviers@timesnews.net GATE CITY – Students at Gate City High School received some exciting news on Thursday morning.

In a packed assembly at the school’s football field, school faculty announced a new attendance incentive for students: Those who keep their attendance up have a chance to win one of several high-value giveaways, including college scholarships or a 2014 Ford Focus. “(The school) came to us about an attendance incentive to help kids and motivate kids to be in school every day and to stay present in class,” said Sarah Nelms, service manager of Fairway Ford of Kingsport, the sponsor of the giveaways. “I graduated from Gate City; I love Gate City High School, love Scott County, and we just wanted to give back to the community.”

Giveaways For seniors with good attendance, Fairway Ford will give away four scholarships worth $500 each to two boys and two girls throughout the school year.

Students can choose to apply these scholarships at any college or university of their choice.

Students of all grade levels can qualify to win the car. Those who meet the school’s attendance goals will be entered into a drawing, and one lucky student will be chosen as the winner at the end of the school year.

Qualifying for the grand prize Amy Sallee, assistant principal at Gate City High School, said students will have five opportunities to qualify for the car giveaway.

“They have to have perfect attendance for each nine weeks; we have four nine-weeks,” Sallee said. “Or, if they have perfect attendance for the year, they get an extra (entry) in the drawing, so they have five opportunities.”

Promoting attendance The student body got its first glimpse at the car during Thursday morning’s announcement. At the end of the assembly, several excited students stopped to admire the car, and some even snapped photos of it on their cell phones.

Mike Lane, school principal, said he’s hopeful that community partnerships to promote school attendance will continue in the future.

“Maybe we can keep it up,” Lane said. “It’s great to have someone like Fairway Ford to partner with that would support students and support what we’re trying to do. It’s great.”

http://www.timesnews.net/gallery/Gate-City-Highstudents-with-good-attendance-could-winscholarships-Ford-Focus

ATX2

Russell County Public Schools Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow

Student Pledge I pledge to attend school every day because I have the power to achieve my dream.

I promise to participate in my classes, complete my assignments, and study for my exams because school is my first and most important job. I will work hard, ask for help when I need it, and carry on even when times are tough.

Today, I pledge to believe in myself and surround myself with people who believe in me. By signing, I _______________________ truly believe that my attendance matters, because I matter. I pledge to

ATX2

in the 2019 school year.

Student Signature: __________________________ Date: ______________

# RUSSELLATX2

Russell County Public Schools

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow

Did you know?

A school a month.

student is at risk of falling behind if he or she misses as few as two days of

2 days per month x 9 months = chronic absence Chronic absenteeism…at least 10 percent of school days in a school year for any reason, excused or unexcused…is a primary cause of low academic achievement. A few absences in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Poor attendance in preschool, kindergarten and first grade makes it less likely that students will be able to read at grade level by the end of 3​rd​ grade and more likely, they will be held back. By 6​th​ grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a major indicator that a student will drop out of school. By 9​th​ grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation than test scores.

Last year 19.89% of Russell County Public Schools students were chronically absent

We can change that.

When communities work together to address absenteeism and encourage attendance, youth and family outcomes can be dramatically improved. In short, we believe chronic absenteeism in Russell County is a solvable problem.

Join Russell County Public Schools in our initiative to encourage students to Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow ATX2 As a community, we want every student in school to learn every day, and no student with more than 6 absences in any school year.

How Can You Help?

1. Make attendance important! Make getting to school on time every day a priority in your family.

Schedule appointments for after-school hours and vacation for school breaks.

2. Help your neighbors! Check every day, or as much as possible, to see if the young people you know and love are in school, and talk about the importance of being in school every day and what it means for their future.

3. Spread the word! Share information about the importance of daily school attendance and Russell Counties “Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow” campaign with others.

Russell County Public School

ATX2 2222

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow Individual School Action Plan

1. Identify team members: Think in terms of who on your staff convey a positive approach to attendance and those who can deliver a message about chronic absenteeism. Who are your creative staff members? What staff members are good at data? Consider a parent who relates well with ALL other parents? _______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

_______________________________

2. Review your school data for Chronically Absent and how it related to your SOL scores.

3. Identify important Stakeholders connected to your school. This could be support staff…Bus Drivers, Custodians, etc. On the other hand, it may be a business or civic organization that is connected and can influence parents.

4. Designate team members who are responsible to make contact, meet with, or connect with stakeholders Key Community Stakeholders Team Members Designated Contact _______________________________

________________________________

_______________________________

________________________________

_______________________________ _______________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

_______________________________ _______________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

_______________________________

________________________________

_______________________________ _______________________________

________________________________ ________________________________

_______________________________

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.

5. Develop a plan. How you are going to implement ATX2. This is the details of how effective it will be in your school. The what, when, why and how?  

Provide in-service with your staff; include building relationships with student who are chronically absent.

Define key opportunities when parents and students are in large groups at your school Examples: sports events, festivals, parent/teacher conferences, presentations/plays,



Consider using media as part of your plan: newsletter, Twitter, Facebook, bulletin boards.

Parent Pledge Did You Know? ​A student is at risk of falling behind if he or she misses as few as two days of school a month. 2 DAYS PER MONTH x 9 MONTHS = CHRONIC ABSENCE

Chronic absenteeism—at least 10 percent of school days in a school year for any reason, excused or unexcused—is a primary cause of low academic achievement. A few absences in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Poor attendance in preschool, kindergarten and first grade makes it less likely that students will be able to read at grade level by the end of 3​rd​ grade and more likely they will be held back. By 6​th​ grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a major indicator that a student will drop out of school. By 9​th​ grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation than test scores.

409 of Scott County’s students missed more than 18 days last school year. Almost 12% of students in our community were chronically absent from school in 2017-2018. We can change that.

When communities work together to address absenteeism and encourage attendance, youth and family outcomes can be dramatically improved. In short, we believe chronic absenteeism in Scott County is a solvable problem.

As a parent, ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

I will make attending school every day a priority for my child.

I will keep track of my child’s attendance and absences.

I will ensure that my child attends school every day and arrives on time unless they are truly sick.

I will find a relative, friend or neighbor who can take my child to school if I miss my bus and I am unable to take them.

I will set up medical and dental appointments for weekdays after school. If I must make a medical appointment during the school day, I will try to ensure my child is at school for the majority of the day.

If I am struggling with a challenge that is keeping my child from school I will contact the school and seek help.

Parents please sign and return to your child’s homeroom teacher ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I pledge to help my child strive for 5 or fewer absences in the 2018-2019 school year to develop the habit of on-time attendance​.

My child’s name: ________________ Date: _____ Signature: _____________________

SMYTH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD DR. DENNIS G. CARTER, ​INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT 121 BAGLEY CIRCLE, SUITE 300 MARION, VIRGINIA 24354-3140 PHONE: 276-783-3791 FAX: 276-783-3291

JESSE CHOATE, CHAIRMAN WAYNE CARTER

SUSAN B. WILLIAMS, VICE –CHAIRPERSON TARA E. PRUITT, CLERK CHARLES M. BUCHANAN, JR.

PAUL L. GRINSTEAD WILLIAM A. VESELIK TODD WILLIAMS

RESOLUTION Attend Today Achieve Tomorrow Strive for 5 Initiative WHEREAS​ good attendance is essential to student achievement and graduation, and we are committed to dedicating our resources and attention to reducing chronic absenteeism rates, with a focus starting as early as kindergarten: and WHEREAS​, chronic absenteeism – missing 10 percent or more school days for any reason including excused and unexcused absences, or just two or three days a month – puts students at risk of decreased reading proficiency, academic failure and eventual dropout, all of which weaken our community and our local economy: and WHEREAS​, the impact of chronic absenteeism has a particularly negative impact on students who face barriers related to reliable transportation, lack of access to health care, and unstable or unaffordable housing as well as students who don’t have the support and resources to overcome lost time in the classroom: and WHEREAS​ improving attendance and reducing chronic absenteeism requires commitment, collaboration and tailored approaches to particular challenges and strengths in each community: and WHEREAS​, schools and districts should track, document, calculate and share attendance data to ensure chronically absent students are identified and interventions are delivered as early in the year as possible: and WHEREAS​, improving attendance and reducing chronic absenteeism requires commitment, collaboration, and target interventions from a variety of stakeholders including schools, parents and community resources: and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED​ the Smyth County School Board recognizes and supports The Attend Today Achieve Tomorrow Strive for 5 Initiative and commits to reducing absenteeism and giving all children an equitable opportunity to learn, grow and thrive academically, and socially.

Passed and Approved ___________________

ADOPTED​ this _______________________ Smyth County Public Schools _______________________ Mr. Jesse Choate, Chair

ATTEST: ________________________ Ms. Tara Pruitt, Clerk

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow

#SmythStrivefor5

Did You Know?

A student is ​at risk of falling behind​ if he or she misses ​as few as two ​days of school a month.

2 DAYS PER MONTH x 9 MONTHS = CHRONIC ABSENCE Chronic absenteeism—at least 10 percent of school days in a school year for any reason, excused or unexcused—is a primary cause of low academic achievement. A few absences in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Poor attendance in preschool, kindergarten and first grade makes it less likely that students will be able to read at grade level by the end of 3​rd​ grade and more likely they will be held back. By 6​th​ grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a major indicator that a student will drop out of school. By 9​th​ grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation than test scores.

453 of Smyth County’s 4329 students missed more than 18 days last school year​.

Almost 1 in 10, or 10.1% of students in our community were chronically absent from school in 2016-2017.

We can change that.

When communities work together to address absenteeism and encourage attendance, youth and family outcomes can be dramatically improved. In short, we believe chronic absenteeism in Smyth County is a solvable problem.

Join Smyth County Schools in our initiative to encourage students to Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow

Strive for 5!

As a community, we want ​every​ student in school to learn ​every​ day, and no student with more than 5 absences in the 2017-2018 school year.

How Can You Help?

1. Make attendance important! Make getting to school on time every day a priority in your family.

Schedule appointments for after-school hours and vacations for school breaks whenever possible.

2. Help your neighbors! Check every day, or as much as possible, to see if the young people you know and love are in school, and talk about the importance of being in school every day and what it means for their future.

3. Spread the word! Share information about the importance of daily school attendance and Smyth County’s “Strive for 5” campaign with others.

Attend Today Achieve Tomorrow

#SmythStriveFor5 In partnership with

Pulaski County invites community to partner behind "Attendance Matters" initiativettendance matters

By Katey Roshetko | Posted: Wed 4:35 PM, Aug 22, 2018 | Updated: Wed 8:52 PM, Aug 22, 2018

PULASKI COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) In order for a school system to achieve the top level of accreditation, no more than 15-percent of students can be chronically absent in a school year.

That's why "Attendance Matters" is the message Pulaski County Public Schools wants the entire community to partner behind.

"Chronic absenteeism will affect students, it'll affect their academic performance, it'll affect the community, it'll affect the school's because of accreditation," Mary Rash, Director of Administration and Instruction, said.

Chronic absenteeism means a student misses at least 10% of the school year.

"Students who are are not in school, who miss the instructional day, of course are missing valuable learning opportunities that become very difficult to make up," Rash explained.

A recent study found that if a student misses more than 10% of their instructional time, their reading levels can decrease by the third grade and their likelihood of graduating also decreases.

"We know that when students stay on the right path, come to school every day, attend every day, complete their assignments, they're getting prepared for their future," Mary Cheverton, Consulting Teacher for Attendance and 504 Plans, said.

In Pulaski County, the attendance rate was 86-percent during the 2016-2017 school year.

"We're very pleased with that and over this next year we want to work to increase that percentage rate of attendance," Rash said.

There will be a community awareness event Thursday night to talk about the Attendance Matters initiative.

"This is to bring in parents, service providers, and the medical professional community so that we all work together with chronic absenteeism because we want this to be a community effort to improve our attendance rates," Rash said.

"We are here to partner with you to overcome any obstacles that they may have, that you may have to coming to school," Cheverton said. "We are partners in this process."

The Attendance Matters Community Meeting is happening Thursday night at 6 at New River Community College in Edwards Hall. Click hereto learn more about chronic absenteeism and its effects on students' education.