Suggestions for Increasing Attendance
CHECK INTERVENTIONS attempted and indicate dates:
RTI
FBA (Pathways)
PBI
Contract
Student conference(s)
Counseling – Student and/or parent
Parent contact(s) (phone and/or meeting
Recommended parenting classes
Incentive – Student choice
Tutoring/homework assistance/skill building
Mentor, peer buddy (circle one)
Adjusted schedule
Daily meeting with Counselor/Social worker
Attendance Group/Breakfast club
Check & Connect
Home visit(s) completed
Attempted
Nurse involvement
Doctor’s note required
Recommended medical evaluation
ELL Social Worker
Youth Court Diversions
Court Services/Probation officer involvement
Referral to outside agency
Agencies/community resources involved with student (i.e. Scouts, YMCA, etc.)
By
Multi-agency meeting
Alternate placement offered
Suggested placement:
Parent accepted alternate placement
Special Education assessment
504 referral
Currently on IEP/504
IEP/504 has determined in writing that attendance is not related to the student’s
disability. (documentation required)
Attendance strategies
Find out why student doesn’t come to school and address reason for absence; talk to student, parent, teacher
Analyze attendance patterns
Plan for likely attendance problems before school starts
Check if specific teachers have higher absence rates
Provide a continuum of supports/consequences (non-punitive)
Call the student/parent (teacher)
Show/tell students you’re glad they’re in school and they are missed when they are gone
Assign special jobs to students with attendance problems
Develop individual success plans
Provide opportunity to use technology
Involve student in extracurricular activities
Take student on career-based field trips
Give them what they need: Transportation, alarm clock, supplies
Recognize good (not just perfect) and improved attendance
Offer incentives – parties, gift certificates, recognition, awards
Assign a mentor
Work with agencies, school nurse
Use of court system not generally effective – should be last resort
Work with parents on importance of being in school/impact of missed instruction
Communicate with families about what’s happening in school; avoid blaming
Determine issues keeping parents from getting child to school – empower parents
Market attendance goals/value
Involve family in planning and implementation; make them part of the team
Make home visits
Connect parents with a school contact for constant and personal communication
Provide family counseling
Do individual counseling
Involve the student in a supportive group
Provide “aftercare”
Proven practices
Relationship-building: Individualized attention, strong relationships
Contacting parents: Meaningful incentives for parental responsibility, include parents
Strong and clear attendance policies
Family counseling
Intensive school interventions (above, mentors, individualized plans, team approach)
Ongoing truancy prevention programs
Staff that are trained, committed and supported
Ongoing, rigorous evaluation