1. Best Practices of Successful Attendance Teams
Presented September 8, 2017, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the Every Day Matters: Building School-Based Plans to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism Conference
Best Practices of Successful Attendance Teams
Teri Wimborne, Director of Collective Impact.
Mission: Graduate
Lorilei Chavez, Native American Liaison,
Bernalillo Public Schools

2. Why?
Attendance Teams work together to ensure that no one person has the
weight of the school on their shoulders.
Increasing attendance makes teacher’s jobs easier.
An attendance team can look together at the data to determine where the
biggest issues are.
An attendance team can work together, brainstorming ideas for
increasing attendance
Attendance teams form cohorts that support each other and divide
the work
Attendance teams can look at student level data – “why are Joseph and
his sister out so much at the same time?”
“I know the family, I will call Mom and talk with her.”

3. What does a successful attendance team look like?
Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only
thing that ever has.”
Team made up of committed members, with a designated lead and decision maker (who else should be on your team?)
Access to school data on a regular basis
Regular meeting schedule, with an agenda
Willingness to roll up sleeves, brainstorm action plan
Involves the community
Understands that failing is not falling backward

4. Attendance Around the Country

5. Relationships Matter
A Toolkit for Launching An Elementary Success Mentor Initiative

6. Attendance Works – Portraits of Change
New Britain, Connecticut
Springdale, Arkansas
Long Beach, California
Phoenix, Arizona
Oregon Tribal
West Newfield, Maine

7. What did these communities have?
Passion

8. Successful Attendance Steps
Identify or establish a team to address attendance
Look at school data
Develop an initial plan of action
Create a tiered system of supports
Tap community partners for help      

9. A. Recognize good and improved attendance
Strategies for School Sites
A. Recognize good and improved attendance
B. Engage students through school activities, incentives, contests, culturally appropriate events
C. Engage parents through one-to-one discussions, school climate, open door policy, family events, resources
D. Monitor attendance data regularly
E. Develop a school-wide campaign on attendance awareness
F. Provide Personalized Early Outreach for students with needs
G. Develop Programmatic Response to Barriers

10. Attendance Awareness Strategy
School-Based Partnerships & Continuous Improvement

11. Team Work at a Local High School-BHS
Looked at high school chronic absence data
Hosted meetings with tribal education departments
Initiated student input surveys
Participated in the Homecoming Parade and distributed attendance information to the community
Began promoting healthy hygiene habits school wide

12. Student Surveys

13. Students Surveyed

14. BHS School Attendance Policy Work
Fall 2016, Joined the Strive together Attendance initiative. Performed Process Map of school attendance.
School Attendance is Taken
Attendance put into system
Parents called
Is it?
Are they?

15. BHS Attendance Team Work
Climate Assessment

16. Success Mentors

17. Changes to Policies
Are there school policies that are keeping the work from being done?
Are there school/district policies that need to be in place?
Are there policies that can make the attendance process work better?
Who needs to approve policy changes?
How do you get buy in? (hint: data helps!)

18. Thank you!
Missiongraduatenm.org