Be present… make every day count!

1. Be present… make every day count! District Truancy Elimination Plan Solanco Attendance Task Force Presented 4/28/2014

2. Solanco’s Attendance Snapshot Averages are based on data over the last five years. • Solanco schools maintain a daily attendance rate of over 95%. • 12-13% of students in each school miss 10 days of school per year. • 8-9% of students miss 11-19 days per school year. • Over 800 students may be missing up to 20 days of school per year. HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THEIR ACHIEVEMENT, THEIR FUTURES, and THE FUTURE OF OUR COMMUNITY? Be present… make every day count!

3. Effects of Chronic Absenteeism • If a student misses 20 school days per year, by 9th grade, that student will have lost approximately one full year of instruction. • Attendance patterns as early as grade 1 can indicate future dropout potential. • By 9th grade, being absent 20% of the school year is a more accurate dropout predictor than test scores. Be present… make every day count!

4. Effects of Chronic Absenteeism • Solanco dropouts over the last five years display an attendance issue for several years prior • The average dropout will earn an annual income of $10,386 less than the typical high school graduate and $36,424 less than somebody with a bachelor’s degree. • Staying in school = increased earnings, increased spending, home sales, auto sales, new jobs, higher gross state product, local and state tax revenue, setting and meeting goals, healthy families, strong communities. Be present… make every day count!

5. Attendance Task Force • Members: Administration, parents, community partners • ATF Process: Combined meetings, subcommittee meetings, draft proposal meeting • Around the Table: District justice, area counseling professionals, head of school-based therapy program, Director of Juvenile Probation, Director of Children and Youth Services, Family Court Judge, and more • Continuous Feedback/Revision Process Be present… make every day count!

6. Solanco District Policy #204: Attendance Requirements of Pennsylvania’s Basic Education Circular (BEC) for Attendance: • Guidelines include limited number of legal absences prior to requiring a doctor’s note. • 10 day limit The necessity of policy change points to needed communication regarding a consistent plan and procedure.

7. Truancy Prevention Plan Be present… make every day count!

8. Marketing Attendance • Purpose: Reinforce concept that attendance translates to success in school and life • District-Wide Presence: • Media “blast” at the start of 2014/2015 school year • Community-wide posters in businesses • District website • Providing attendance-related resources to parents • Statistics on why attendance is important • Social media presence • Attendance-focused presentations (Back-to-School) Be present… make every day count!

9. Community, Business Poster

10. Marketing: Building Level • Standard timeline across the district • Marketing publications, encouragement, letters • Building-wide posters and banners • Building announcements on regular basis • And times of year when attendance is historically low • Quarterly perfect attendance letters to parents • Attendance focus in back-to-school packet • Food bag blurbs • Back-to-School Night presentations Be present… make every day count!

12. Building Incentives • High School • Renaissance Program • Middle Schools • Trips, drawings, and celebrations • Elementary Schools • Perfect Attendance competitions • Building programs like Clermont Cares Be present… make every day count!

13. Marketing in the Future • All attendance-related publications include district attendance slogan (below) • Greater online presence (social media) • More building-wide incentive opportunities • Student-created advertisement opportunity • Mrs. Shelton’s and Mr. Mendez’s classes at HS level • Business collaboration for future publications • Increased business presence in buildings • Presentations, career days to focus on importance of good attendance Be present… make every day count!

14. Attendance Correspondence • Goal 1: Revise written communication to: • Reflect a partnership philosophy, build relationships, & connect families to community supports • Include a consistent, positive message • Inform parents about the importance of attendance • Provide the necessary legal notice Result: Written communication that addresses parents at all stages of the attendance process. Be present… make every day count!

15. Attendance Guidelines • Goal 2: Develop detailed truancy prevention guidelines for use at all levels Result: Specific procedures to be utilized by administrators, school counselors, secretaries, nurses, and teachers. These procedures include: • The form of notice • The point of intervention • The individual responsible for intervention • Specific Interventions • Flexibility Be present… make every day count!

16. Attendance Transition Plan • Goal 3: Clearly define the plan and means to share information between schools or levels and continue established relationships with parents. Result: A transition plan that identifies specific individuals responsible for the transference of information and checks to ensure continuity. Be present… make every day count!

17. Truancy Elimination Process • Focus areas: identifying root causes, connecting root cause to community resources, engagement of all stake holders, goal-setting, and continuous review of progress. • Process: Initiation by administration, plan formation, implementation by all team members, careful follow-up by nurses regarding health needs, monitoring through school counselor, collaboration for follow-up meetings. Be present… make every day count!

18. Truancy Elimination Plan • Sensitive Communication Process • Identifying Root Causes • Goal-Setting • Incentives • Monitoring Be present… make every day count!

19. Truancy Elimination Plan • Parent Questionnaire and Student Questionnaire • Identifying root cause/need • Monitoring/data analysis • Revision/follow up Be present… make every day count!

20. Community Supports • Solanco Community Link Publication • Accessible in many formats and locations • Solutions listed by root cause • Specific contact persons listed • Used proactively and through TEP process • District Resource Guide • Further connects District personnel with additional resources • Updated continuously Be present… make every day count!

21. Community Supports • Continuous Collaboration • Facilitate dialogue • Obtain feedback • Engage in implementation • Continuous meeting process Be present… make every day count!

22. Annual Review Be present… make every day count! Examine data points Determine success/needs Revise plan and process as needed LIVING PLAN/DOCUMENT

23. Special Thanks • Entire Attendance Task Force & Subcommittees • Dr. Martin J. Hudacs, Superintendent • Solanco School District Administration • Solanco School District Board of Directors • Kay Bandy and Michael DelPriore, Subcommittee Chairpersons • Parent Representatives • Liz Guers, Graphic Designer • Stuart Mylin, District Magistrate Be present… make every day count!