Reducing Chronic Absence Why Does It Matter? What Can We Do? January 29, 2014

What is Chronic Absence? Excused Absences Unexcused absences Suspensions Chronic Absence Attendance Works recommends defining chronic absence as missing 10% or more of school for any reason. Chronic absence is different from truancy (unexcused absences only) or average daily attendance (how many students show up to school each day). 2

90% and even 95% ≠ A High Levels of Average Daily Attendance (ADA) Can Mask Chronic Absence 98% ADA = little chronic absence 95% ADA = don’t know 93% ADA = significant chronic absence 3

Exposure to language: Starting in Pre-K, attendance equals exposure to language-rich environments especially for low-income children. Time on Task in Class: Students only benefit from classroom instruction if they are in class. On Track for Success: Chronic absence is a proven early warning sign that a student is behind in reading by 3 rd grade, failing courses middle and high school, and likely to drop-out. College Readiness: Attendance patterns predicts college enrollment and persistence. Engagement : Attendance reflects engagement in learning. Effective Practice: Schools, communities and families can improve attendance when they work together. (For research, see: Improving Attendance Matters Because It Reflects: 4

Starting in PreK, More Years of Chronic Absence = Need for Intensive Reading Support By 2 nd Grade * Indicates that scores are significantly different from scores of students who are never chronically absent, at p<.05 level; **p<.01; ***p<.001 Some risk At risk 5

Attendance Is Key To Laying A Foundation For 3 rd Grade Reading 6

Multiple Years of Elementary Chronic Absence = Worse Middle School Outcomes Oakland Unified School District SY , Analysis By Attendance Works Chronic absence in 1 st grade is also associated with: Lower 6 th grade test scores Higher levels of suspension Years of Chronic Absence in Grades 1-5 Increase in probability of 6 th grade chronic absence Each year of chronic absence in elementary school is associated with a substantially higher probability of chronic absence in 6 th grade 5.9x 7.8x 18.0x 7

The Effects of Chronic Absence on Dropout Rates Are Cumulative 8

Chronic Absence in High School Predicts Lower College Persistence 9 In Rhode Island, only 11% of chronically absent high school students persisted into a 2 nd year of college vs. 51% of those with low absences. Rhode Island Data Hub: May 2014

How Can We Address Chronic Absence?

Find Out Why Students Are Chronically Absent Myths Absences are only a problem if they are unexcused Sporadic versus consecutive absences aren’t a problem Attendance only matters in the older grades Barriers Lack of access to health or dental care Poor transportation No safe path to school Aversion Child struggling academically Lack of engaging instruction Poor school climate and ineffective school discipline Parents had negative school experience Chronic disease 11

Hope for a better future + Faith that school will help you or your child succeed + Capacity Resources, skills, knowledge needed to get to school 12 Going to School Every Day Reflects When Families Have …

AW Recommended Site Level Strategies 13

High Cost Low Cost 14 Recognize good and improved attendance Educate & engage students and families Monitor attendance data Clarify attendance expectations and goals Establish positive and engaging school climate Improving attendance requires adoption of a tiered approach that begins with prevention TIER 1 All students Provide personalized early outreach Meet with student/family to develop plan Offer attendance Mentor/Buddy TIER 2 Students exhibiting chronic absence (missing 10%) Intensive case management with coordination of public agency and legal response as needed TIER 3 Students who missed 20% or more of the prior school year (severe chronic absence) Truancy interventions

Tier 1: Communication, Education, and Engagement

Parent Video & Discussion Guide 16 Discussion: When and where might you use these materials with a family or a group? SETTING THE STAGE VIDEO (6 minutes) FACILITATED CONVERSATION – THE CONSEQUENCES OF CHRONIC ABSENCE – HOW TO IMPROVE ABSENTEEISM FAMILY PRACTICE INCREASE SOCIAL CAPITAL IDENTIFY HOW SCHOOL CAN HELP COMMUNITY SERVICES

 Chronic absence (missed 10% or more of school) in the prior year, assuming data is available.  And/or starting in the beginning of the school year, student has: Criteria for Identifying Priority Students for Tier 2 Supports 17 In first 2 weeks In first month (4 weeks) In first 2 months (8 weeks) 2 absences 2-3 absences 4 absences Missing 10% any time after

Possible Tier 2 Interventions 18 Assign Attendance Buddies Partner with families/students to develop Student Attendance Success Plan Recruit for engaging Before- or After-School Activities Connect to Walk- to-School Companion Offer plan or contacts for Health Support Positive Linkages and Engagement for Students and Families

19 Tools for Tier 2: The Power of Positive Connections

Students & Families Schools Actionable Data Positive Messaging Capacity Building Shared Accountability Is accurate, accessible, and regularly reported Expands ability to interpret data and work together to adopt best practices Conveys why building a habit of attendance is important and what chronic absence is Ensures monitoring & incentives to address chronic absence Community District Ingredients for System-wide Success & Sustainability Strategic partnerships between district and community partners address specific attendance barriers and mobilize support for all ingredients 20

21 Lessons learned from other communities

22 Kent School Services Network (KSSN) Interdisciplinary attendance teams: Attendance teams meet weekly to monitor attendance trends and intervene with students who are chronically absent or headed off track. Teams typically include a DSS worker, community school coordinator, principal, nurse, attendance secretary and family support specialist. Coordination of services: KSSN schools are community service centers offering health, mental health, dental and vision services to low-income families. They also connect families to churches, businesses & other organizations that offer supports. Student and family engagement: KSSN schools engage families in improving attendance through one-on-one outreach, attendance incentives and parent involvement activities.

Superintendent and Principal Leadership District and Building Attendance Policy Teacher/Staff Buy-in Regular Attendance Meetings Parent Outreach Attendance Incentives Interagency Casemanagement Year End Assessment KSSN Insights into Elements of Success 23

Improvement is possible; implementation matters 24

The Response: Interagency Task Force MAYOR’S INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE 25 Established in 2010 by Mayor Bloomberg and comprised of the Mayor’s Office, Department of Education, and various other city agencies Key Aspects: Using Data to Measure, Monitor, and Act Success Mentors Principal Leadership New Models for Connecting Community Resources to Schools Promoting Awareness Incentives, Recognition, and Response Accountability Strategies to Sustain Efforts

Success Mentor Models MAYOR’S INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE 26 Three Models: Developed with Nationally Recognized Leaders External: Community-based Organizations E.g. City Year, Social Work Students, Retired Professionals Internal: School Staff E.g. Teachers, Guidance Counselors, Social Workers, Classroom Teachers, Administrators Peer-to-Peer: Students E.g. High school seniors/juniors mentoring freshman

Success Mentors’ Responsibilities Target Students Success mentor assigned “target” students who were chronically absent the year prior, and is matched with these students early in year, for full year. School-Wide Strategies Promote a positive school-wide culture that encourages all students to attend and achieve. Principal’s Weekly Student Success Meeting Attend the weekly meeting and collaborate with school partners to support mentees. Parental Engagement Work with families to share importance of attendance, and call home for every absence. Interact with parents to celebrate students’ success whether big or small. MAYOR’S INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE 27

Key Finding: Task Force Schools Significantly Reduced Chronic Absenteeism All three cohorts of task force schools consistently outperformed comparison schools. Positive impacts were consistent across elementary, middle, high schools, and alternative schools. Impacts greatest for students who benefit most from being in school: high poverty students & students in temporary housing. MAYOR’S INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE 28

Key Finding: Success Mentors & Supporting Infrastructure Substantially Improved Student Attendance Students with prior histories of chronic absenteeism with a Success Mentor gained nearly two additional weeks of school (9 days), which is educationally significant. In the top 25% of schools, students with Success Mentors gained one additional month of school. High School students with Success Mentors (including those overage for their grade) were 52% more likely to remain in school the following year. Mentees reported they liked having a mentor and the mentor helped improve their attendance, schoolwork, motivation, and confidence. MAYOR’S INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE 29

Professional development: site administrators and teams trained to interpret attendance data, adopt best practices and engage in peer learning. Actionable data: sent report every 10 days with information on how many and which students are chronically absent School attendance teams: monitored the data and ensured appropriate supports are in place. Home visits: hired two outreach workers to conduct home visits to chronically absent kindergartners. Parent engagement and communications: Messaged thru newsletters, daily interactions with parents & attendance incentives. Community partnerships: used community agencies to offer supports at school sites and thru a district Attendance Review Committee formed to avoid referrals to juvenile court. New Britain, Connecticut

What was the impact in New Britian? Chronic absence dropped from 20-13% for K-8 in year 1 ; progress sustained in year *School year represents 140 school days