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.

School-wide goal is to decrease chronic absenteeism by at least 2 percent during each semester of the 2018-19 school year with an emphasis on decreasing chronic absenteeism in Kindergarten and Fifth grades and increasing efforts during and semester to eliminate the current trend of increasing absenteeism during that semester. 

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

Monitor Data:

• Full time School Social Worker (SSW) will monitor attendance data weekly and inform other staff of any concerns, or positive trends requiring intervention/recognition.  SSW will implement and document interventions designated on attendance intervention plan for all students. 
• Attendance Committee will be established that meets monthly to review school-wide attendance data, discusses any strengths/concerns related school/classroom climate, and ensure that all interventions from the attendance plan are being implemented with fidelity.  
• Comprehensive Problem-Solving team will review attendance data during weekly meetings and make specific recommendations for students struggling academically. 

• Students/parents will be greeted by staff as then enter school campus. Students will be greeted by teachers as they enter the classroom.
• Front office staff will be trained and encouraged to promote a welcoming environment for students/parents by being visible, friendly, and responsive.
• School staff will provide a curriculum that draws students to school including before and after school programs and enrichment activities.
• School attendance line and SIP for attendance are easily accessible on website.
• Parents will receive reminder of attendance policy and school start time on each school newsletter as well as during robo calls home 1x per quarter.
• Students will be reminded of school start time and positive attendance facts on morning announcements at least 1x per quarter.
• Attendance and tardy procedures are included in school handbook and SIP.
• School Administrators and/or full time SSW will review attendance policies, procedures, intervention plan during staff meetings.
• Teachers will welcome students back after an absences and identify any academic support needed.

• An attendance banner/flag will be awarded monthly and held by the classroom in each grade with the fewest absences and tardies.
• Positive feedback to parents will be provided by administration if students improve attendance including; notes home, phone calls, and award certificates.
• Students with perfect attendance and most improved attendance (including tardies) will be shared on the announcements and recognized at quarterly awards assembly.

• Teachers will incorporate attendance data during conferences, on interims and report cards.
• Teachers will call home if a student exhibits any attendance concerns and refer family to SSW for additional support/resources if appropriate.
• School staff will integrate information about chronic absenteeism during parent programs including open house, SAC meetings, award assemblies and Kindergarten Round Up.

• Staff will promote/participate in a Safe Walk to School event to address community safety.
• A clothing/uniform bank will be available for parents/students in need.
• A food pantry will be maintained to meet the nutritional needs of families.
• All students will receive free breakfast.
• Students in select grade levels will receive dental care, vision and hearing screenings. 

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

Monitor data:

• Full time SSW will review pattern of non-attendance bulletin each week to identify students who are chronically absent or at risk for chronic absenteeism. Written summary of year-to-date interventions for those students will be shared with leadership team for discussion at weekly meeting.
• Attendance Committee will review individual cases presented by SSW to discuss underlying causes for student’s continued absences including school climate and attendance practices.
•  Each student receiving Tier 2 interventions will be periodically evaluated by full time SSW and administration to determine the need for an appropriate Tier 3 response.

• Teachers will contact parents personally when a student has 1-3 unexcused absences, 1-4 excused absences, 1-3 tardies in a marking period, and 3-5 early sign-outs in a marking period. Teachers will express concerns about the student being absent from school and gather information about the reason(s) for the absences.  When appropriate they will inform parent about SSW/HEART services.
• SSW will send positive attendance letter home after 3^rd unexcused absence and 5^th excused absence (if appropriate). This letter offers positive strategies for families to improve school attendance.
• SSW will send initial tardy letter home after 3^rd tardy in a marking period.
• SSW will send home pattern of non-attendance letter home if a student has accrued 10 or more tardies an/ or 5 or more early sign outs in a marking period.
• Teachers will request a home visit by the SSW if they are unable to engage the parent via phone or by written request for conference.
• Attendance data will be shared at all RTI meetings and team members will identify academic/attendance needs and develop a plan to provide appropriate interventions.
•  Administration and SSW will maintain contact with the student/family to ensure they are receiving the needed support.
• Full time SSW will meet with teachers in small groups to nurture their interest and capacity in helping to reach out to students/families regarding the impact of chronic absenteeism.
• Volunteer Adult Mentor(s) will be trained to work with Tier 3 students to provide one-on-one support with meeting attendance goals and supporting academic progress. These volunteers will be supervised by full time SSW who is trained to supervise adult mentors.

• For at risk students, full time SSW and administration will meet with parents individually to set attendance goals and time frames using the attendance success plan. Students that meet these goals will be recognized for good and improved attendance.

• SSW will make home visits as needed to connect families with needed resources and make referrals to appropriate services to ensure positive school attendance.
• Administrators and SSW will meet with parents personally to set attendance goals and time frames using the attendance success plan.
• Teachers will schedule parent conferences to share impact of absences on academic learning and to discuss reasons for absences.

• School staff including teachers, office staff, administration, and SSW will work together to identify barriers to attendance which may include health concerns, transportation, homelessness, housing, lack of school supplies, vision concerns, mental health concerns, medical concerns, etc. Once identified, staff will offer any available resources/referrals to help remove these barriers.

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

Monitor Data:

• The full time SSW will identify the students that have a history of or are at risk for missing 20% or more days. The list of these students will be shared with key staff.
• The full time SSW will review the attendance daily to ensure that Tier 3 students are in school each day and if not, follow up with parents to determine the reason for their absence.

• School administration will meet with parents personally to explain attendance laws and work with families to avoid legal consequences whenever possible.
• Families will be given every possible resource to assist with student attending school regularly including but not limited to social services, counseling services, health services, and human services.
• When all resources have been exhausted and student continues to exhibit chronic absenteeism, school administration and the full time SSW will leverage the power of the courts by engaging with parents at BTIP meetings to determine if there are any additional resources available through the courts.
• School staff will work together to ensure the student is connected to positive supports including the SSW, School Counselor, Adult mentors, and positive peers.

• For at risk students, the full time SSW and administration will meet with parents individually to set attendance goals and time frames using the attendance success plan. Students that meet these goals will be recognized for good and improved attendance.

• SSW will make home visits as needed to connect families with needed resources and make referrals to appropriate services to ensure positive school attendance.
• Administration and SSW will meet with parents personally to set attendance goals and time frames using the attendance success plan.
• Teachers will schedule parent conferences to share impact of absences on academic learning and to discuss reasons for absences.
• The full time SSW will review the attendance daily to ensure that Tier 3 students are in school each day and if not, follow up with parents to determine the reason for their absence.

• School staff will implement agreed upon attendance success plan and monitor closely for progress.
• School staff will connect with students with chronic physical and mental health issues to medical/mental health providers.