Attendance Awareness Campaign Update

A project led by Attendance Works

September 22, 2023

Good Health = Improved Attendance!

Poor physical, behavioral and dental health challenges are the leading reasons students miss too much school. Occasional absences related to health reasons are to be expected. But absences can quickly add up. What can school and districts do to reduce and prevent unnecessary health-related absences? Read below for ideas.

We’ve developed, with the National Association of School Nurses, Kaiser Permanente and other health experts, new guidance for keeping students healthy and in school. 

Download our handouts to assist when communicating with families about when to send a child to school if they show signs of illness or how they can help support a student who may have anxiety. 

We are delighted to announce that Attendance Works Executive Director Hedy Chang will receive the 2023 Martin C. Ushkow Award from American Academy of Pediatrics Council on School Health. Chronic absenteeism will be a focus of a morning education program during the 2023 AAP National Conference & Exhibition on October 22, 2023. Read more in our blog post.

We’ve confirmed our speakers for the final 2023 AAC Webinar, Sustaining Success: Investing in Showing Up! on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. 12pm-1:30pm PT / 3pm–4:30pm ET. Register here.

Reducing today's high levels of chronic absence requires a continual focus on engagement, support and the rebuilding of routines. Donate today and help propel the push for a full educational recovery for all kids and youth.

Attendance Tools

The National Healthy Schools Collaborative compiled a list of events and materials designed to help provide families, educators, school staff, pediatricians, administrators and more with helpful information related to student health. 

The need for pediatricians and health providers to partner with schools to address today’s absenteeism is more urgent than ever. We developed with AAP a Learning Burst training for school health staff and related health professionals. Find Addressing Chronic Absenteeism from School. 

Schools and communities can provide support to meet student and staff health needs. We’ve updated resources in the Count Us In! toolkit section, Develop Strategies to Address Common Barriers.

The U.S. Department of Education announced its efforts and resources available to help improve chronic absenteeism. The resources for states, districts, schools, communities, and families include technical assistance through the Student Engagement and Attendance Center and access to the latest research and evidence interventions. 

Explore stories developed by the Public Health Informatics Institute to see how school attendance, along with school readiness and school disciplinary indicators, can be used to measure and improve child and adolescent mental health.

Attendance Celebrations!

The Fontana Unified School District (CA) print shop created Showing Up Together/Presentándonos Juntos buttons to raise awareness about school attendance during Attendance Awareness Month.

Augusta County Schools (VA) have launched the Every Day Counts campaign to promote improved attendance. High school seniors are visiting elementary schools to talk about why they come to school each day.

Laredo Independent School District (TX) held an event at LISD Performing Arts Complex Auditorium to declare September as Attendance Awareness Month. A middle school band played, and three high school students led the Pledge of Allegiance.

State News

The National Association of State Boards of Education dedicates the September issue of its magazine to improving student attendance and engagement. Attendance Works shares the value of taking a systemic approach (e.g. actionable data, positive engagement, strategic partnership and capacity building) to improve student attendance, while Bob Balfanz of Johns Hopkins University shares work being done to improve high school attendance.

Events

Because families most often skim messages sent home from school, they may not act on the information. Join Todd Rogers, professor with Harvard University, who will discuss the practical insights from his new book Writing for Busy Readers. Register for this event on September 21, 2023.

There is still time to celebrate Community School Coordinator’s week September 17-23 using the 2023 toolkit! Staffed by IEL, the Coalition for Community Schools prepares, supports and mobilizes leaders to advance community schools as a key equity strategy for children, families and communities.

We collaborated with the National Center for Community Schools on a September 28 webinar, The Power of Community Schools to Reduce Chronic Absence. We will review foundational concepts related to attendance improvement, explore the power of the community school strategy in supporting this work, and discuss strategies to overcome seasonal obstacles.

Partner Spotlight

Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to making schools healthier places for all students. HSC provides leadership development and tools to school stakeholders and advocates for better access to nutritious school food, physical activity, school health resources and clean air to shape children’s lifelong learning and health.

Join Healthy Schools Campaign on October 4, 2023 for a look at the steps Illinois took to expand its school Medicaid program beyond services included in Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and how Illinois’ policy changes can serve as a model for other states seeking to leverage Medicaid funding. Stay tuned for registration.

Corporate Sponsors

A special thanks to our Attendance Awareness Campaign corporate sponsors for their commitment to help ensure that every child and youth is engaged and in school every day. Their investment makes it possible for us to provide you with free strategies and materials.

Attendance in the News

Soaring chronic absenteeism in California schools is at “pivotal moment”, CalMatters, September 7, 2023 

City, school leaders initiate campaign to promote attendance, San Antonio Report, September 5, 2023

Ohio Supreme Court issues guidance for schools and courts to stem truancy, Highland County Press, September 6, 2023

Social Media Sample

Join @attendanceworks for the 4th & final 2023 AAC Webinar #4 🎙️ Sustaining Success: Investing in Showing Up 🗓️ 9/27 12pm PT/3pm ET 📝 https://rb.gy/o4h22 @IELconnects @readingby3rd @JHU_EGC @FutureEdGU @healthyschools @MENTORnational @leagueofcities @UnitedWay #SchoolEveryDay

We are now on Instagram! Find updates on our free resources, strategies, reports and events. Follow us @attendanceworks

Campaign Convening Partners

See the full list of Attendance Awareness Partners here.

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

For more information contact: info@attendanceworks.org

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