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.

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

• The administrator responsible for school attendance will ensure that all teachers have completed the Brainshark training (Teachers: Elementary School Attendance).
• Attendance Committee which will include, school administrator, IMT, and team leaders will monitor attendance-taking procedures and review school wide attendance data.
• Attendance Committee will meet weekly to review attendance data, discuss any strengths/concerns related to school/classroom climate, and ensure that all interventions from attendance plan are being implemented with fidelity.
• At the beginning of each month, the administrative team will request from the IMT to provide a report of current year attendance categories to monitor improvement and steer the direction of attendance initiatives.

• Students/parents will be greeted by staff as they 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.
• Students will be reminded of school start time and positive attendance facts on morning and afternoon announcements at least one time per month.
• Attendance and tardy procedures are included in the school handbook and SIP. 
• Teachers will welcome students back after an absence and identify any academic support needed. 

• School based attendance recognition events will occur throughout the school year.  These will include quarterly certificates and school based attendance recognition and may be combined with honor roll assemblies.   
• The administrator responsible for attendance will ensure that students have opportunities to participate in District-wide Attendance recognition events when qualified (certificates, Miami Heat games, Florida Panters, Miami Marlins, etc). 

• School staff will host a transition meeting for students moving from feeder middle schools into 9th grade.  Families will meet the team of teachers, tour the school, and learn about the importance of regular attendance for their child's academic success through the end of their senior year. 
• Attendance will be included on all student report cards. 
• Integrate information about chronic absence into parent programs and communications throughout the school year. 

• This school provides free breakfast for all students, every school day. 
• A bike rack enclosed in a locked gate is available for students that arrive by bicycle.  The rack is locked after school begins and is unlocked and monitored by staff after school. 
• The Community Liaison from Family and Community Engagement will host parent nights throughout the year to inform parents about services, programs, and District policies. 

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

• Each week, the leadership team will review pattern of non-attendance bulletin each week to identify students who are chronically absent or at risk for chronic absenteism.  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 the leadership team 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 the leadership team 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, 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/Community Liaison and School Counselor will send attendance letter home after 3rd unexcused absence and 5th excused absence (if appropriate).  This letter offers positive strategies for families to improve school attendance. 
• SSW and Community Liaison will send initial tardy letter home after 3rd tardy in a marking period. 
• SSW and Community Liaison will send home pattern of non-attendance letter home if a student has accrued 10 or more tardies and/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. 
• 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. 

• For at risk students, the 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 and Community Liaison will conduct home visits as needed to connect families with needed resources and make referrals to appropriate services to ensure positive school attendance. 
• Administrators, SSW and Community Liaison 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, SSW, Community Liaison, and School Counselor 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. 
• The school nurse and SSW will follow up with parents and health care professionals on any major medical conditions that impact school attendance. 

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

• The Leadership Team, Community Liaison, and School Counselor 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 Leadership Team, Community Liaison, and School Counselor will review the attendance weekly 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's Leadership Team 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, Leadership Team 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 collaboratively to ensure the student is connected to positive supports including the Leadership Team, School Counselor, Mentors, and positive peers. 

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

• 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.