Lowell Public SchoolsHelping Students Stay the Course

Jeannine Durkin, Deputy Superintendent for Student Support ServicesHeather Ganley, Supervisor of AttendanceNancy Crones, District Support SpecialistRosa Segarra-Morales, Attendance Monitor

● Changes in legislation helped to shape a new way of thinking

● Development of a District Attendance Intervention Plan that shifted from punitive to supportive

● Collaboration with partners city-wideHELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

Getting Started

LPS District Attendance Intervention Plan

LPS Website link: Attendance Intervention Snapshothttps://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Page/176HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

● Focused on attendance as a district priority

● Instituted school-based attendance teams/meetings

● Re-energized partnership with DCF/Juvenile Court

● Formalized Tier III court diversion program - Attendance Improvement Model (AIM)

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

2013/2014

● Transitioned district focus to “Chronic Absence”

● Increased school-based interventions

● Increased AIM meetings (court diversion)

Unexcused Absences

Excused Absences Suspensions

Chronic Absence = 10%

or more of instructional

days

● Included new partners ➔ NFI Family Resource Center

(new AIM location)➔ Lowell Youth Development

Collaborative (LYDC)

● Redesigned the Dropout Prevention Team with additional focus on elementary and middle schools

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

2014/2015

Lowell Public Schools Chronic Absence (CA) Rate

*Data from Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website: http://www.doe.mass.edu/

2,165 Students

CA

2, 379 Students

CA

2, 512Students

CA

2, 540Students

CA

2,561Students

CA

*SY 15/16

Attendance Improvement Model (AIM)Kristin A. Pepin, Probation OfficerMIddlesex Juvenile Court-Lowell

89 Appleton St, Lowell, MA 01852

In 2013, the Lowell Public Schools, Lowell Juvenile Court and Lowell DCF collaborated to formalize a Court Diversion Program, aptly entitled AIM.

Evolution of AIM:● Identifying a need● Coming together● Program emerges● AIM is launched

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

Lowell AIM Family Engagement ModelTarget Areas

Team Roles at AIM Meeting (to be assigned)

DISCOVERY - The team garners parent/guardian feedback as to why child is not attending school regularly.

FACILITATOR - Attendance Supervisor/Monitor*creates agenda, leads meeting

ASSESSMENT - The team works with the family to identify barriers, solutions and services as deemed necessary.

DATA MANAGER - Attendance Supervisor/Monitor*brings attendance and supporting documentation from X2 to team meetings

REFERRAL - The team may provide the family/student access to services to resolve issues. Services may be provided by the school or referrals may be made to services within the community.

TIME KEEPER - Assigned at Meeting*keeps team on task

ACTION PLAN - The team develops a plan including specific steps and resources needed to improve attendance.

RECORDER IN X2 - Assigned at Meeting*documents meeting and action plan developed

FOLLOW UP - A school-based meeting is held to measure success with attendance and the parent/guardians’ utilization of services referred and determine further steps, if necessary.

ACTION PLAN - School Attendance Personnel*records action plan recommendations, obtains signatures and distributes to parent/guardian(s)

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

NFI Family Resource Center Adam Murray, School Liaison

27 Prescott St, Lowell, MA 01852

Origin of FRC:● 18 opened across the state in 2014/2015 in response to the new CRA law● NFI in Lowell opened in May 2015 serving over 1200 families (600 of those were

school-based referrals)

AIM Collaboration:● Flexibility in the model allowed for a unique collaboration with LPS to help service

the needs of families

The AIM "Aha" Moment that Led to ATTENDS:● After collaborating with the AIM team, we believed there was more we could offer ● Court involvement not always a supportive motivator in creating successful

change HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

ATTENDS Absenteeism and Truancy Training to Engage, Nurture and Develop Success

Curriculum for Caregivers

ATTENDS:

● A three week curriculum for caregivers of chronically absent students

● Three modules that the caregivers complete as part of the course:

○ Attendance Matters ○ Health and Wellness○ Pathways to Success

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

ATTENDS Success:APRIL-MAY 201716 referred LPS caregivers, All 16 graduated

Attendance/Dropout Toolkit

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

LPS Tiered Supports

Attendance/Dropout Data

Overview

City-wide Attendance Awareness Campaign

Community Resource

Guide

Strategies Toolkit

District Attendance Intervention Plan

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

Below State Avg. 2 Years in a Row!

*Data from Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education website: http://www.doe.mass.edu/

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

Tiered Supports

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

Elementary Tiered Supports

Tier I Tier 2 Tier 3District Attendance Intervention PlanAttendance Awards CeremonyDaily Principal's Attendance ReportStudent Handbook w/District Attendance PolicyBeginning of the school year "Importance of Attendance" LetterClassroom Attendance CompetitionsCitywide Attendance Awareness CampaignAttendance PledgeAttender BandsIn-zone transportation In-school Attendance IncentivesBullying Policy and SupportCTI After School ProgramsAdvisory/Open Circle Etc.Engagement in Club/School Activity PBIS at Participating SchoolsAcademic/Behavioral Data ReviewAfter School Sports/ActivitiesResource OfficerCommon Planning Time - CPT21st Century CCLC Programs at Available SchoolsEWISSigns in School About Importance of Attendance

Phone Call on or Before 3 AbsencesLetter Home on 4th Absence Attendance Letters in Google DriveHome Visit School Based Attendance Team Meeting Assigning a Mentor Referral to Catie's Closet Referral to Monthly Food Pantry Collaboration with Medical ProvidersReferral to School Administration Team MeetingReferral for a Teacher Assistant Team meeting - TATSchool Based Attendance MeetingsDistrict Attendance MeetingsAttendance/Behavior/Safety ContractsGroup or Individual Behavioral IncentivesReferral to School Social WorkerSocial Skills Group/Counseling GroupLunch GroupTargeted Tutoring GroupStaff/Peer Mentoring Targeted Academic InterventionMeeting with Student and FamilyBullying InvestigationLunch with StaffCounseling ReferralsReferral to Mentoring Agencies (See Community Resource List)504

Systems Meeting with Care ProvidersCrisis InterventionAlternative School ReferralReferral to Outside Agency for intensive community based supports (IHT, ICC)SRO Home VisitModified DayTutoring CenterEngagement CenterCourt Referral (CRA/FTC)Special Ed ReferralAttendance Improvement Model (AIM)Specialized Safety/Behavioral PlanIncreased Staff Supervision

Community Resource GuideLPS Website link: Community Resource Guidehttps://www.lowell.k12.ma.us/Page/664

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

Agency Name Population Served Services Provided Referral Procedure Cost

City-wide Attendance Campaign

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

Launched 1st City-wide Attendance Awareness Campaign August 2016

Be in School, Be on Track! Attendance Matters!

Partners: District Attorney, Lowell Police, Lowell Youth Development Collaborative

City-wide Attendance Awareness Campaign

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

●●●●●

National Night Out

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

Attendance Public Service Announcement

● Produced with the support of Jack Pinard, Lowell Public Schools Educational Television Program Coordinator

● Aired on Comcast satellite stations (Nick, Disney, AMC, etc.) in addition to local channels as of August 1st, 2017.

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

●●●

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

School-Based Attendance Events

Attendance Billboard

With the support of Capital Associates Inc., LPS has a no-cost attendance billboard which was launched on August 18th, 2017 on Route 3 at the 110 exit in Lowell.

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

● Attendance and dropout rates needed improvement ● School-Based Attendance Teams implemented● Collaboration initiated with community partners● City-wide Attendance Awareness Campaign launched● Data shows interventions are working

HELPING STUDENTS STAY THE COURSE

Summary

In Lowell, we are getting better every day at helping students stay the course.

We wish you continued success in charting the course for your students.

Questions?

Nancy Crones Heather Ganleyncrones@lowell.k12.ma.us hganley@lowell.k12.ma.us