Research shows that the transition to high school is not easy for many students and attendance often declines in the 9th grade. If left unaddressed, this easily translates into lower academic achievement and over time dropping out of high school. This is why it is crucial to pay attention to data. Early data from Connecticut and California show significant increases in 9th grade chronic absence last year.

Avoiding a dropout crisis involves intensifying support to incoming 9th and 10th graders who struggled last year. Educators and partners can focus on relationship building, offer academic support and monitor student attendance and engagement.

Our work with schools, districts and states is helping educators and their partners think strategically about how they can effectively support students and families as we continue to adapt to Covid-19, and what they should have in place over time to improve student attendance and achievement. Donate today!

The Center for High School Success, which works in 155 high schools in six states, collected innovative practices that worked to engage incoming 9th grade students during the pandemic, such as adopting a 4X4 schedule and competency-based credit recovery. Find Stand Stronger: Stand-Out Practices from the Pandemic.

Mentoring has proven an especially effective strategy for teens who are chronically absent or at risk of becoming so. The nonprofit MENTOR has a portal with tips and resources for e-mentoring. As highlighted in our April 14 Attendance Awareness Campaign webinar, peer mentoring is also an invaluable approach.

Our Sept. 29 webinar, Supported: Leveraging Attendance Data to Ensure Ongoing Success (revised title), will offer a range of strategies for taking data driven action including promising approaches to support struggling 9th and 10th graders. Register here.

View our new video featuring Executive Director Hedy Chang explaining what chronic absence is and how schools, districts and community partners can leverage the Attendance Awareness Campaign as part of their back-to-school effort to respond and recover from the pandemic. We invite you to share the 4-minute video at your meetings, events, on your website or in other outreach.

Register for AAC Webinar #4, Supported: Leveraging Attendance Data to Ensure Ongoing Success, on 9/29. Hear inspiring success stories & strategies for maintaining attendance throughout the school year: https://www.attendanceworks.org/resources/webinars/ #SchoolEveryDay @IELconnects

For strong attendance this year, we all need to ensure kids continue to access learning opportunities even if they must quarantine or stay home due to illness. @attendanceworks offers expanded metrics for monitoring attendance: https://attendanceworks.org/chronic-absence/addressing-chronic-absence/monitoring-attendance-in-distance-learning/ #SchoolEveryDay

A big thank you to this year's Attendance Awareness Corporate Sponsors: EveryDay Labs, French Toast and Kaiser Permanente.

Whirlpool Installs Washers and Dryers in BH Schools in Pilot Program, Moody on the Market, September 8, 2021

Opinion: Will 2020s missing students find their way back to classrooms? The Hill, September 6, 2021

Opinion: We can get Kansas City children back in school, but it’s going to take all of us, The Kansas City Star, September 3, 2021

It's 'All Hands On Deck' As CPS Sees Chronic Absenteeism Increase And ELA Rates Fall Due To Pandemic, Cincinnati Public Radio, September 1, 2021

See the full list of Attendance Awareness Partners here.

Attendance Works is a non-profit, national and state initiative. Our mission is to advance student success and reduce equity gaps by addressing chronic absence. Find free downloadable resources, research, consulting services and more on our website: www.attendanceworks.org

For more information contact: info@attendanceworks.org

Sign up for our newsletter: https://awareness.attendanceworks.org/contact/aam-updates