Goals for the Attendance Plan

1. A school's response for this section should be in SMART format for improving attendance for each category reported in the data tables.
• Specific
• Measurable
• Attainable
• Realistic/Rewarding
• Timely
2. Address early grades at your school level (K & 1, 6th Grade, 9th Grade). Analyze school-wide data to determine needs at grade levels and times of year when challenges occur more often.

School attendance data are provided reporting percent of students with satisfactory attendance, at-risk attendance, chronic absenteeism, and severe chronic absenteeism. The two-year trend allows for comparison of attendance over time and an indication of how strategies implemented to improve attendance are working.

Hollywood Central Elementary has developed a detailed, systematic attendance plan that will guide the
school in the daily implementation of compulsory school attendance laws. The attendance plan has been
developed utilizing the Broward District Attendance Policy 5.5. The purpose of this procedural manual is to
provide guidelines to the school staff in the implementation of the Attendance Policy. The information in red is
the related procedural information that should provide clarification and information for the implementation of
the Attendance Policy as approved by the School Board on 6/23/15.

Hollywood Central's Attendance Plan will be implemented each month using specific themes and strategies.
August- Form an attendance team and review prior year's data, Create publications explaining attendance expectations and post them on entrances, exits and common areas throughout the school, Prepare an attendance bullentin board highlighting class and individual success, Outline attendance incentives for the school year, Provide parents with attendance notification informing them concerning attendance data from the previous year, Send a copy of notification home to the parents
September/October- A calendar will go home to remind parents of the school's 96% attendance goal.The parent returns the calendar for a chance to win a monthly prize. The IMT will keep track of the students attendance to make sure HCE is meeting the attendance plan's goal at the end of the quarter.

November- Meet with the attendance team to anaylze the school wide trend and grade data regarding attendance patterns. This will help to target and develop incentives and ideas for the end of the second quarter. Plan a school wide attendance incentive before Thanksgiving Break.

December/January- Send a parent link or message to students who have maintained a 96% and above attendance rate thus far. Weekly morning announcement recognizing the class the highest attendance rate. Provide teachers with an attendance guidance lesson to all grade level classes, especially the class with the lowest attendance rate. The IMT will keep track of the students attendance to make sure HCE is meeting the attendance plan's goal at the end of the quarter.

February- Launch an "Ambassadors of Attendance" campaign in conjuction with President's Day. Solicit parents and students from the student council to promote an Attendance Campaign Poster/Video Contest, Work with students to come up with Attendance Day Public Announcements for the HCE Daily Morning Announcements.

March/April- Students who are first to arrive to school will be able to stand at the gate with adult supervision to welcome to the students in the morning. The students will provide parents updated attendance data and strategies to help promote attendance throughout HCE. The IMT will keep track of the students attendance to make sure HCE is meeting the attendance plan's goal at the end of the quarter.

May/June-Perfect Attendance Day Monthly/Quarterly students will be rewarded with a day that celebrates their attendance. Suggested activities: lunchtime activity, exclusive lunch table, chair or front of the line pass. The IMT will keep track of the students attendance to make sure HCE is meeting the attendance plan's goal at the end of the quarter.

Tier 1 Strategies for Attendance

Tier 1 Strategies for Attendance - Address all five core ingredients. Tier 1 is aimed at 100% of students, parents, school staff, and community stakeholders. This is where you cast a wide net. Strategies are general to reach the largest audiences and include all employees and stakeholders.

Tiered plans will include strategies and interventions for the 5 core ingredients.

• Monitor Data
• Engage Students and Families
• Recognize Good and Improved Attendance
• Provide Personalized Outreach
• Remove Barriers

Hollywood Elementary Attendance Policy will identify non-attendance for instructional activities is
established by tardiness, early-sign-outs, or absences for all or any part of the day. We as a school supports
the District recommendation that students attend school every day. The attendance is monitored on a daily
basis by the school Data Processor Clerk (DPC) and concerns are sent to the Collaborative Problem Solving
Team (CPST).
The teachers will take attendance daily. (Attendance must be taken for each period. Bear in mind
that attendance records are legal documents so accuracy in taking attendance is imperative.)
Unless acceptable documentation is presented/submitted, an accumulation of daily absences
(excused or unexcused), by tardiness, or early sign-outs that equals 5 days (30 hours) in a
marking period or 10 days (60 hours) within two marking periods may establish a pattern of
non-attendance.
Students are expected to attend school every day of each marking period. If a student has
accumulated 5 days of absences, e.g. if a student signed out early 5 times, was absent 2 days,
was tardy 10 times, and the accumulated minutes equals more than 5 days, the
principal/designee will determine whether the student is establishing a pattern of nonattendance.
If no pattern is determined, e.g. a doctor’s note for continued physical therapy etc.,
interventions may be provided. If, however, it is determined that there is a pattern
of non-attendance then sanctions may be imposed (see below for possible
sanctions).
As of October 17th, 2018, Hollywood Central Elementary currently has 16 students so far with a pattern of nonattendance on the District's B-Tip Report (i.e Optispool). In addition, Hollywood Central Elementary has 58 students in grades (K-5) who has five absences or more since October 17th, 2018.
Because regular attendance is critical to students' success in school, Hollywood Central's goal is to decrease the number of students with a pattern of nonattendance on the District's B-Tip Report by 15 students each quarter for the 2018-2019 school year as measured by the Optispool. We know from research that chronic absenteeism has a dramatic effect on student achievement.  This goal will help the students at Hollywood Central to understand the importance of attending school and how that affects student academic performance.
 

Tier 2 Strategies and Interventions to Improve Attendance

Tier 2 Strategies and Interventions to Improve Attendance - Address all five core ingredients. Tier 2 identifies students using early warning indicators to make connections with students and families at the onset of the school year or emergence of patterns of non-attendance. Early warning indicators include prior year chronic absenteeism, 3 or more absences in the first 4 weeks of enrollment, more than 10% of school days absent in any time period from the beginning of enrollment.

- Tier 2 represents between 10-20% of students at all schools in Broward County. This is true at individual schools and across the District.

- Chronic Absenteeism: Absent for 10% or more school days. These absences include excused, unexcused, and suspensions as days of instruction missed.

Tiered plans will include strategies and interventions for the 5 core ingredients.

• Monitor Data
• Engage Students and Families
• Recognize Good and Improved Attendance
• Provide Personalized Outreach
• Remove Barriers

If the CPST finds that a pattern of excused absences is developing, whether the absences are excused or
unexcused, the parents must be given a menu of options to help remediate the behavior (Refer to the
interventions listed in section II(c).
On the elementary level, if at the 5-day BTIP (Broward Truancy Intervention Program)
meeting it is determined that the reasons for the excessive absences are legitimate, the
principal/designee must enter the 076 Code on the L27 panel (a comment should be
entered on the L27 explaining why the 076 Code was used).
If the reasons are not accepted, the school monitors the case, and continues
school-based interventions to remediate the truant behavior.
The interventions may include, but need not be limited to:
1. Frequent communication between the teacher and family
2. Changes in the learning environment;
3. Mentoring
4. Student counseling
5. Tutoring, including peer tutoring
6. Placement into different classes
7. Evaluation for alternative education programs
8. Attendance contracts
9. Referral to other agencies for family interventions or services

Tardiness is defined as a student not being in the classroom when the class is scheduled to begin.
1. Parents must follow the same process to excuse a tardy as they do to excuse an absence.
2. Excessive tardiness will be addressed on a case–by–case basis to determine if there is a pattern of
non- attendance. Non-attendance for instructional activities is established by tardiness, early-sign-outs,
or absences for all or any part of the day.
3. Tardiness to any class without documentation may be considered unexcused.
4. Habitual tardiness is defined as being tardy 5 times within a marking period.
5. Principals have the discretion to excuse tardiness for extenuating circumstances.
6. Unless excused under the provisions of this policy, accumulated tardiness will be recorded as
unexcused absences. (F.S. 1003.02 (1) (b))
Students who are tardy five times within a marking period may be establishing a pattern of
non-attendance, and may be referred to the
Collaborative Problem Solving Team (CPST). The accumulation of tardy minutes will count towards the 5 days
that a student is permitted to be absent within a marking period. The A17 panel will have a field available to
capture these minutes.
 

Tier 3 Interventions

Tier 3 Interventions - Address all five core ingredients. Tier 3 is the highest level of intervention and support for students that are absent 20% or more school days during the year.

- At most schools, Tier 3 interventions are utilized for about 5% (or less) of the student population.

Tiered plans will include strategies and interventions for the 5 core ingredients.

• Monitor Data
• Engage Students and Families
• Recognize Good and Improved Attendance
• Provide Personalized Outreach
• Remove Barriers

Action Step 1: Hollywood Central will generate and act on absenteesism data by first prioritizing the development of early warning prevention and intervention systems, identifying who the students are or the students' at risk if becoming chronically absent from school, increase the students' access to support services before it is impossible for the student catch up, and explore public/private organizations to increase or support interventions in order to eliminate chronic absenteeism.
Action Step 2: Hollywood Central will implement positive and supportive engagement strategies like mentoring, counseling, and positive behavioral interventions to help improve students' attendance and success in school. Hollywood Central will not send punitive or demeaning messages to families threatening them with punishment since that strategy is deemed ineffective.
Action Step 3: Hollywood Central will raise positive awareness about the causes and effects of chronic absenteeism by conducting trainings for school staff and by giving school staff effective strategies to help eliminate chronic absenteeism.

Non-attendance for instructional activities is established by tardiness, early-sign-outs, or
absences for all or any part of the day. If the student exhibits a pattern of nonattendance, principals may request documentation for subsequent
absences. (F.S. 1003.24(4)) Non-attendance for instructional activities is established by tardiness, earlysign-
outs, or absences for all or any part of the day. If the Principal determines that there is clear evidence of a
pattern of nonattendance the case should be referred to the Collaborative Problem Solving Team (CPST).
• If the CPST finds that a pattern of non-attendance is developing, whether the absences are
excused or not, a meeting must be scheduled with the parent to identify potential remedies.
• On the elementary level, if the 5-day meeting determines that the reasons for the excessive
absences are legitimate, the 076 Code is entered on the L27, thus the BTIP process is halted (a
comment should be entered on the L27 explaining why the 076 Code was used).
• If the reasons are not accepted, the school monitors the case, and continues school-based
interventions to remediate the truant behavior.
• The interventions may include, but need not be limited to:
1. Frequent communication between the teacher and family
2. Changes in the learning environment;
3. Mentoring
4. Student counseling
5. Tutoring, including peer tutoring
6. Placement into different classes
7. Evaluation for alternative education programs
8. Attendance contracts
9. Referral to other agencies for family interventions or services
• Parents must be notified of their right to appeal the interventions. Appeals may be made to the
Superintendent.
• The Superintendent/designee shall provide a hearing officer to hear the appeal and make a
recommendation for final action to the Board.