1 of 11

Coffee with a Counselor

Attendance Awareness Month

Why does it matter and what can we do?

2 of 11

What are we here to talk about today?

What is satisfactory attendance?

Missing 10 or fewer days in a school year

​

What is chronic absenteeism?

Missing 10% or more, or 18+ days, in a school year

​

How is chronic absenteeism different from truancy?

Truancy refers to unexcused absences and focuses on following the rules/law

​

Chronic absenteeism incorporates all absences and focuses on the academic consequences in addition to preventing absences before students fall behind. It recognizes that students miss school for many understandable issues for which they shouldn’t be punished. Instead, schools and families should work together to fix the underlying problems that lead to absenteeism.

3 of 11

Why is attendance so important?

  • Missing school regularly leads to missed instruction, drop in grades, and decreased motivation.
  • Children who miss 18 or more days in a school year for any reason in preschool, kindergarten, and 1st grade are much less likely to read on grade level by the 3rd grade.
  • Students who are unable to read on grade level by the end of the 3rd grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school than proficient readers. Also, children who miss 18 or more days in a school year for any reason are much more likely to drop out of high school.
  • Dropping out of high school is linked to poor outcomes later in life such as poverty, diminished health, and involvement in the criminal justice system.
  • Chronic absenteeism is a measurement of school quality for accreditation.

*Much of this can be found at www.attendanceworks.org

4 of 11

What is Ressie Jeffries doing to improve student attendance?

Tier 1A - supports for ALL students

  • Requirement for membership in National Elementary Honor Society
  • Students with perfect attendance are announced monthly, rewarded each advisory, and given a t-shirt at the end of the year.
  • Teachers greet every student by name in the morning.
  • Students who have missed less than 5 days are awarded at the end of each advisory with a fun/special day.
  • Students with most improved attendance are awarded at the end of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th advisories with a certificate.
  • Dry-erase boards display daily attendance data at entrances, each class displays its attendance in the hall, and a bulletin board shows monthly attendance data by class. Classes with 98% or better attendance each month get a star in the front hall.
  • A fully stocked “Comfort Closet” is available to families in need. Also, school supplies are provided as needed/requested.

5 of 11

What is Ressie Jeffries doing to improve student attendance?

Tier 1B - supports for students who miss more than 5%, or 10+ days, of a school year (not satisfactory attendance)

  • Students set a goal to improve their attendance in the fall and review their progress in the winter and spring.
  • Students are invited to an attendance small group if room is available.

6 of 11

What is Ressie Jeffries doing to improve student attendance?

Tier 2 - supports for students who miss at least 10%, or 18+ days, of a school year (chronic absenteeism)

  • Teacher reviews attendance weekly with attendance buddies.
  • Teacher may give rewards for regular attendance.
  • Parents/guardians are contacted every day the student is absent.
  • Students are invited to an attendance small group if room is available.

7 of 11

What is Ressie Jeffries doing to improve student attendance?

Tier 3 - supports for students who miss at least 20%, or 36+ days, in a school year

  • Students are assigned an “attendance buddy” to check on them daily.
    • “Attendance buddies” include principals, counselors, and specials teachers
  • Attendance buddy may give rewards for regular attendance.
  • Parents/guardians are contacted every day the student is absent.
  • Students are invited to an attendance small group either at the beginning or the middle of the school year.

8 of 11

5. Greeting students at the door

1. National Elementary Honor Society 6. Challenge 5 Hat Day, PJ Day, etc.

2. Monthly perfect attendance announced 7. Daily attendance displays

3. Spirit sticks for perfect attendance in each advisory 8. Monthly attendance display

4. Perfect attendance t-shirts at the end of year 9. Comfort Closet

​

1. Attendance goal for the year

2. Progress monitoring of attendance and goal

3. Attendance small group if room is available

​

1. Attendance small group if room is available

2. Teachers check in weekly with attendance buddies

3. Parent/guardian contacted every absence

​

​

1. Attendance small group

2. Daily attendance buddy check-in

3. Parent/guardian contacted every absence

​

9

​

46

​

115

​

407

​

​

577 total students!

9 of 11

Does all of that really make a difference?

  • Ressie Jeffries’s attendance compared to past years
    • Only about 11% of our students were chronically absent last year compared to 13.8% - 17.8% in the 4 previous years.
  • Ressie Jeffries’s SOL results compared to past years
    • Reading and science had the highest pass rates yet at 76 and 77% respectively! Virginia Studies is still our best subject with 82% of our students passing the SOL test, and we had our highest amount of advanced scores in math at 19%!
  • Ressie Jeffries’s attendance compared to other schools
    • We went from having the worst elementary school attendance in 2016-2017 to having the 2nd best in WCPS just behind A.S. Rhodes!
  • Ressie Jeffries’s SOL results compared to other schools
    • 76% of our students passed their reading SOL. We tied with HJB for 1st!
    • 72% of our students passed their math SOL. We were the 2nd highest!
    • 77% of our students passed their science SOL. We tied for 2nd!
    • 82% of our students passed their social studies SOL. We were 3rd!
      • WE ARE ABOVE THE COUNTY AVERAGE IN EVERY SUBJECT!

*All statistics can be found at http://schoolquality.virginia.gov/

10 of 11

What can be done at home?

  • Let your children know that good attendance is important
    • Show interest in school activities and school work
    • Speak well of the school and school staff
    • Make a contract to improve attendance and provide rewards
  • Establish routines
    • Pack backpacks the night before with completed homework and forms
    • Choose clothes and shoes the night before
    • Shower/bathe in the evening
    • Set regular times to go to bed and wake up with plenty of time to sleep
    • Set a morning routine
  • Only allow students to stay home if truly sick
    • Schedule appointments and trips when school is out of session
    • Do not allow students to stay home for minor ailments, birthdays, etc.
  • Know the signs of anxiety
    • Stomach aches and headaches can be signs of anxiety. Students should still come to school and can talk with their teachers or a school counselor.

11 of 11