District Truancy Elimination Plan

Solanco Attendance Task ForcePresented 4/28/2014

Averages are based on data over the last five years. Solanco schools maintain a daily attendance rate of over 95%. 12-13% of students in each school miss 10 days of school per year. 8-9% of students miss 11-19 days per school year.Over 800 students may be missing up to 20 days of school per year.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THEIR ACHIEVEMENT, THEIR FUTURES, and THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY?

If a student misses 20 school days per year, by 9th grade, that student will have lost approximately one full year of instruction.

Attendance patterns as early as grade 1 can indicate future dropout potential.

By 9th grade, being absent 20% of the school year is a more accurate dropout predictor than test scores.

Solanco dropouts over the last five years display an attendance issue for several years prior

The average dropout will earn an annual income of $10,386 less than the typical high school graduate and $36,424 less than somebody with a bachelor’s degree.

Staying in school = increased earnings, increased spending, home sales, auto sales, new jobs, higher gross state product, local and state tax revenue, setting and meeting goals, healthy families, strong communities.

Members: Administration, parents, community partners

ATF Process: Combined meetings, subcommittee meetings, draft proposal meeting

Around the Table: District justice, area counseling professionals, head of school-based therapy program, Director of Juvenile Probation, Director of Children and Youth Services, Family Court Judge, and more

Continuous Feedback/Revision Process

Requirements of Pennsylvania’s Basic Education Circular (BEC) for Attendance: Guidelines include limited number of legal absences prior to requiring a doctor’s note. 10 day limit

The necessity of policy change points to needed communication regarding a consistent plan and procedure.

Purpose: Reinforce concept that attendance translates to success in school and life

District-Wide Presence: ◦ Media “blast” at the start of 2014/2015 school

year◦ Community-wide posters in businesses◦ District website

Providing attendance-related resources to parents Statistics on why attendance is important

◦ Social media presence◦ Attendance-focused presentations (Back-to-

School)

Standard timeline across the district◦ Marketing publications, encouragement, letters

Building-wide posters and banners Building announcements on regular basis

◦ And times of year when attendance is historically low Quarterly perfect attendance letters to parents Attendance focus in back-to-school packet Food bag blurbs Back-to-School Night presentations

High School◦ Renaissance Program

Middle Schools◦ Trips, drawings, and celebrations

Elementary Schools◦ Perfect Attendance competitions◦ Building programs like Clermont Cares

All attendance-related publications include district attendance slogan (below)

Greater online presence (social media) More building-wide incentive opportunities Student-created advertisement opportunity

◦ Mrs. Shelton’s and Mr. Mendez’s classes at HS level

Business collaboration for future publications Increased business presence in buildings

◦ Presentations, career days to focus on importance of good attendance

Goal 1: Revise written communication to:◦ Reflect a partnership philosophy, build relationships,

& connect families to community supports◦ Include a consistent, positive message◦ Inform parents about the importance of attendance◦ Provide the necessary legal notice

Result: Written communication that addresses parents at all stages of the attendance process.

Goal 2: Develop detailed truancy prevention guidelines for use at all levels

Result: Specific procedures to be utilized by administrators, school counselors, secretaries, nurses, and teachers. These procedures include:

The form of notice The point of intervention The individual responsible for intervention Specific Interventions Flexibility

Goal 3: Clearly define the plan and means to share information between schools or levels and continue established relationships with parents.

Result: A transition plan that identifies specific individuals responsible for the transference

of information and checks to ensure continuity.

Focus areas: identifying root causes, connecting root cause to community resources, engagement of all stake holders, goal-setting, and continuous review of progress.

Process: Initiation by administration, plan formation, implementation by all team members, careful follow-up by nurses regarding health needs, monitoring through school counselor, collaboration for follow-up meetings.

Sensitive Communication Process

Identifying Root Causes

Goal-Setting

Incentives

Monitoring

Parent Questionnaire and Student

Questionnaire

Identifying root cause/need

Monitoring/data analysis

Revision/follow up

Solanco Community Link PublicationAccessible in many formats and locationsSolutions listed by root causeSpecific contact persons listedUsed proactively and through TEP process

District Resource GuideFurther connects District personnel with

additional resourcesUpdated continuously

Continuous Collaboration

Facilitate dialogue

Obtain feedback

Engage in implementation

Continuous meeting process

Examine data points

Determine success/needs

Revise plan and process as needed

LIVING PLAN/DOCUMENT

Entire Attendance Task Force & Subcommittees

Dr. Martin J. Hudacs, Superintendent Solanco School District Administration Solanco School District Board of Directors Kay Bandy and Michael DelPriore,

Subcommittee Chairpersons Parent Representatives Liz Guers, Graphic Designer Stuart Mylin, District Magistrate