Tiers of Intervention to Reduce Absenteeism

JOHNSON CITY SCHOOLS

According to the Tennessee Department of Education’s recently released report cards, the

12 regional Tennessee school districts in NE Tennessee had an average chronic absenteeism rate

of 18.4% in 2023. Johnson CIty Schools has managed to keep its chronic absenteeism rate lower

at 14%. Johnson City Schools ranks 2nd statewide when compared to schools with similar enrollment.

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• The X’s represent improvements in

chronic absenteeism within

subgroups, schools and district.

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• The three schools that did not

improve data did not have

full time interventionists last school

year.

• Fairmont-interventionist was

part time after 1st nine weeks

• South Side-interventionist

was part-time the entire SY

• Indian Trail-interventionist

also served as registar, Power

School scheduler, administrative

assistant and Family School

Coordinator

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Attendance and Student Services Staff�District Level-Tammy Pearce-Supervisor of Student Services�Danise Slayton-Administrative Assistant�Elijah Redd-Court Liaison and Interventionist�

Elementary

Eight Schools

All elementary schools have a Family School Coordinator/ Attendance Interventionist

Two schools have an additional Attendance Interventionist based on attendance data

Middle

Two Schools

Both middle schools have a Family School Coordinator and an Attendance Interventionist

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High School

Two Campuses

Science Hill High School has an Attendance Coordinator, three Attendance Interventionists and an Attendance Data Clerk

Topper Academy-One Attendance Interventionist

Tier One: District AND School wide Prevention-Oriented Supports�

• Copy of the school calendar is sent home with every child.
• “Pay Attention to Attendance” and “Building the Habit of Good Attendance” flyers sent home the first week of school.
• Letters mailed out in July to every student who missed 10+ unexcused days last school year.
• Individual school google drives contain names of students who were chronically absent or truant the previous school year. Begin relationship building with those targeted students.
• In-person “Tier One” meetings with students who were truant last year.
• In-Take meetings with students entering Topper Academy
• Home Visits
• Information given to rising 9^th graders at Freshman Orientation, Patriot Preview and Hawk Preview.
• Each student is allowed five (5) sick days and (3) parent request days per school year.
• At every absence, an automated School Messenger call, text or email is delivered to the student’s primary contact.
• “Attendance Tuesday” positive messaging yard signs with QR code information and message posted in car lines and throughout the high school.
• District website contains attendance resources and communication.
• Individual schools implement incentive programs.
• Monthly School Spotlight at District Office��

Tier Two: Student Services Level and School Level�

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• A plan is created that involve solutions that dissolve barriers that are preventing the student from attending school regularly.
• Parent is given a Community Resource Packet
• DPR (Daily Progress Report)
• WPR (Weekly Progress Report)
• Daily Check-Ins by an interventionist
• Attendance Arcade
• Tutoring may be assigned if attendance is affecting grades
• After School Program referrals
• If necessary, referrals are made to a guidance counselor, care counselor, and/or community based services
• A Tier 2 contract is signed that includes a review meeting date in 30 days to assess progress

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Tier Three: Truancy Board �

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• District Office of Student Services issues Truancy Board Letters
• A truancy hearing is held with the student, parent or guardian and members of the Truancy Board.
• The Board consists of Supervisor of Student Services, Juvenile Probation Officer, DCS Liaison, Mental Health counselor, Court Liaison and school attendance interventionists.
• Interventions assigned include the following:
• Probation with the Truancy Board
• Compliance with assigned counseling or services aimed at addressing attendance
• Parent online Truancy Class
• Student completion of “Power of being Present”
• Truancy Petition filed
• Referral for tutoring or after school program
• Alternate transportation
• Alternate schedule
• DPR, WPR, Daily Check-Ins

Non-compliance, no show for hearing or another unexcused absence will result in a truancy petition.

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JUVENILE COURT HEARINGS

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Court Liaison, School Attendance Interventionist-Elijah Redd

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• Petitions are filed by the Court Liaison after Tiers of Truancy have been completed OR if the parent or student is non-compliant with any of the Tiers.
• Mr. Redd serves on the Truancy Board which gives him background information on each students truancy journey.
• Mr. Redd attends all truancy court hearings along with the school Attendance Interventionist.

Teachers and staff have a particularly important role in educating families about the importance of on-time attendance. Tips for reinforcing this message include:

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• Welcoming each student when they come into the classroom every day.
• Acknowledge students when you pass them in the hallway or see them in the office or cafeteria.
• Notice when a student is absent and when they return, tell them you missed them. Ask why they weren’t in school.
• Relationship building is fundamental to any strategy for improving attendance. Strive to have every student feel close to a supportive adult at the school
• Incorporate daily and/or weekly routines that celebrate attendance and being a part of the class community every day.
• Incorporate both short term and long term rewards. Competitions among teachers is often effective.
• Create an environment where every student can be successful in something.�

Incentives, Incentives, Incentives�Keep the long-term goal in mind: recognition and incentives are positive ways to help students internalize the value of showing up every day. �

• Extra time at the computer or recess
• Extra credit points
• Free homework pass, athletic event pass, concession stand pass
• First-in-line privileges for lunch or dismissal
• Food or treat coupons, hat day, special seating
• Lunch with the teacher, administrator, preferred adult or friend
• Certificates
• Name on the “Attendance Wall”
• Chance to act as the teacher assistant
• Recognition during morning announcements
• Faculty vs Students athletic events

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• Tailgate Party
• Topper Mentor visits
• East Tennessee State University student athletic connections
• Classroom traveling trophy
• “Principal’s Picnic”
• Atten-DANCE
• Sticker Charts/Cards
• Claw Machine
• Attendance Arcade
• Fifth Grade Mentor Program
• Attendance Bulletin Board at Central Office
• Prize Wheel
• “We Missed You” cards
• “Attendance Tuesday” Yard sign messaging

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During September, Indian Trail Middle School held a contest based on the attendance percentage amongst all of the halls in the school. The winning hall received free admission into the Indian Trail vs. Liberty Bell football game, as well as enjoying a tailgate party with ETSU's Football, Cheer and Dance team members as well as members of the Science Hill football team. The Indian Trail Parent and Teacher Association provided pizza, chips and cookies for the winning students, teachers and guests.  

Science Hill Main Campus

Topper Mentors

Interventionists

Topper Academy- Alternative Learning School

-Students typically come to us already struggling with chronic absenteeism and truancy. We average around 150 students and we serve discipline, as well as students at risk for being a dropout.

- What we’ve tried:

- Alternative schedule-All Day / Half In-Person and half Distance / Distance full / altered arrival times

- Each Teacher - Daily Phone Calls

- Intake- They meet levels of support the first day they arrive. Intakes also help us gain insights on how to support.

-Safety plans- for students that need it- accountability

-Counseling Team- Social Worker, Therapist, School Counselor, Case Manager, and Alcohol and Substance Interventionists.

- Food incentives (would like to open Incentives store in future).

- Attendance Specialist- Meetings, helps track down students, home visits, makes phone calls, sends letters, attends truancy board meeting and court, plans incentives

Topper Academy- Alternative Learning School

-Programs:

- Reset Level 1 and 2 / Senior Lab / Transition to Main Campus Lab / Distance Learner Lab (Future)

Special Plans:

-A couple students have a counseling plan that an counseling individual sees them each day to track mental health needs and progress.

- Some students get an incentive of a sensory break if they meet their goals for the day.

- I have many students that participate in Cooper’s Kitchen- they learn cooking skills and could work into a WBL program that could allow them to make money. They run two “coffee breaks” a day that the are able to serve food for our other students (connection to building).

- Some students are pregnant - the half days allows them to work around their doctor’s appointments and the jobs they need to be able to raise their child.

-Incentives - Eggstravangza, Attendance week, Competitions for making Christmas ornaments, Door Decorating, field trips

- Community Service Opportunities- many students need it for probation, so we are able to help bridge that gap

Upper East Tennessee Detention Center

-Tammy Pearce advocated for a Certified teacher position to serve all the students that are in the Detention Center.�� – JCS also sends a counselor to serve the students that need it while they are in the detention Center.

– JCS is committed to helping students detained at the UETDC earn their diploma.

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RACE FOR THE CUP

Attendance Week Incentives:

For students

• Donut Party for the class with the highest attendance percentage for the week
• Extra Recess Time
• Random drawings each day
• Popcorn class party for class with the highest percentage for the week
• Goody bags for each student with perfect attendance
• Ice Cream Party
• Spin the prize wheel
• Lunch with the principal
• Gift cards (Chick-fil-a, Subway, Little Caesars, Daylight Donuts, Petros, Dairy Queen, JC Skate Center, Bowling, Tie Breakers, Hillside Café)

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• For teachers
• Jean’s Pass
• Lunch from local restaurant
• Extra planning period
• Gift cards

Monthly school spotlight

Principal’s Picnic

School Wide Incentive Boards

Claw Machine

Next Steps: Areas We Have Identified For Improvement��

• Community Involvement and Support
• Grant Writing for Funding of Incentives
• Schools administration/teacher involvement and buy-In
• Attendance Support staff being assigned duties outside of working with attendance and truancy.
• “Power of Attendance Class”
• Attendance Tuesday Yard signs
• Incentive store for Topper Academy
• Subgroup gaps (ED, SWD)
• Trauma
• Mental Health

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