Chronic student absenteeism is becoming a significant concern for teachers and parents. Students who are absent for 10% or more of the school year are considered chronically absent. Maximizing educational benefits requires consistent attendance.
Previously, schools often relied on parents to ensure student attendance. However, schools now recognize they can be more active in encouraging regular attendance. Addressing student absenteeism is crucial for enhancing student success.
Attendance Works
Over 8 million students miss nearly a month of school each year, leading to chronic absenteeism. This issue is closely linked to reading proficiency by the end of third grade. Being absent just two days a month, or about 10% of the school year, qualifies a student as chronically absent and negatively impacts academic performance.
Attendance Works, an action research project, assists local agencies in addressing student absenteeism and shaping national policies to encourage attendance. The organization promotes strategies such as monitoring attendance data, engaging students and parents, recognizing good attendance and improvements, and providing personalized outreach.
The bottom line is clear: consistent attendance boosts student success. Attendance works!
Rewards for Attendance
Rewarding students for good or improved attendance can range from simple gestures to more elaborate incentives. For some, a positive remark from a teacher or administrator is enough. For instance, I had a new student with a history of chronic absenteeism. After she missed her second day of school, I made a special effort to connect with her daily.
I greeted her warmly each day and gave her the role of “teacher’s assistant,” praising her attendance efforts. Since then, she hasn’t missed a single day. While not every student will respond the same way, sometimes encouragement is all it takes.
There are many other incentives to encourage attendance. Teachers can use sticker charts, providing a visual record of attendance. When milestones are reached, rewards can include:
- Extra computer time
- A prize from the treasure box
- Free homework pass
- Extra recess
- Other privileges suited to the grade level
- At the school level, students can be recognized for perfect attendance through announcements or special certificates, awarded monthly or at the end of each grading period. Additional incentives include an afternoon movie or a party to maintain high attendance rates.
Recognizing good attendance motivates students and, by extension, their parents. If school attendance is essential to the child, it also becomes crucial to the parents.
Parent Contact
Another effective way to decrease student absenteeism is by maintaining close communication with parents. Often, parents need to be made aware of how much school their child has missed. Periodically sending notes home to update parents on their child’s attendance can be helpful.
If a student approaches the 10% absentee mark, the school office can notify the parent, explaining the implications of being classified as “chronically absent.”
This awareness alone can prompt parents to ensure better attendance. Additionally, sending home positive notes about attendance can be very motivational, as kind words from a teacher or school can encourage students and parents.
Building Relationships
Building genuine, meaningful relationships with students and their families is the key to reducing absenteeism and enhancing overall school success. One educator wisely said, Students and parents don’t care what you know until they know you care.
This principle is transformative. Showing students that you care about their progress creates a strong bond that makes them less likely to miss school.
They don’t want to please a teacher who genuinely cares about them. Similarly, fostering relationships with parents creates a partnership that benefits every aspect of a student’s education, including attendance. Student attendance and overall educational outcomes improve when teachers, administrators, and parents work together.
Frequently Asked Question
What is considered chronic student absenteeism?
Chronic absenteeism refers to students missing 10% or more of the school year. This can significantly impact their academic performance and overall educational outcomes.
How can schools monitor attendance effectively?
Schools can monitor attendance by keeping detailed records, using software to track attendance patterns, and regularly reviewing data to identify students at risk of chronic absenteeism.
What types of rewards can be used to improve attendance?
Rewards can range from extra computer time, prizes from a treasure box, free homework passes, and additional recess to recognition during announcements or special certificates.
How can schools involve parents in improving student attendance?
Schools can maintain close communication with parents by sending regular attendance updates, notifying parents when absences approach the 10% mark, and sending positive notes about their child’s attendance.
How meaningful is the teacher-student relationship in reducing absenteeism?
Building genuine, meaningful relationships with students is crucial. When students feel cared for and connected to their teachers, they are more likely to attend school regularly.
What role do administrators play in reducing absenteeism?
Administrators can support teachers by providing resources for tracking attendance, creating policies that promote regular attendance, and fostering a school-wide culture that values and rewards good attendance.
Conclusion
Reducing student absenteeism requires a multifaceted approach that involves students, parents, teachers, and school administrators. Key strategies include maintaining open and consistent communication with parents, recognizing and rewarding good attendance, and providing personalized support to students with attendance issues.
When students feel valued and supported, they are more likely to attend school regularly. Similarly, engaging parents in the process helps create a collaborative environment emphasizing attendance’s importance. By implementing these strategies, schools can significantly improve attendance rates, enhancing student success and overall educational outcomes.
