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.

By June 4, 2019 the number of chronic absenteeism will decrease from 10.54% (Chronic and Severe) to 7% based on the Comprehensive Attendance Plan from the Data Warehouse.
We will also work on decreasing Tardiness and Early Sign Outs by 5% by June 4, 2019 based on the Comprehensive Attendance Plan from the Data Warehouse.
By June 4, 2019, we will increase satisfactory attendance at from 65.14%  to 68% based on the Comprehensive Attendance Plan from the Data Warehouse.
Members of the Attendance Team: 
Mr. Tom Nordstrom, Ms. Novack, Mrs. Cuesta-Velez, Ms. Thrower.
Mrs. Dunakin will generate monthly attendance reports and review it with Mr. Nordstrom. Mr. Nordstrom with review data and interventions quarterly with the Attendance Team. 

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

A. Monitor Data
The administrator responsible for school attendance will ensure that all teachers have completed the Brainshark training for taking classroom attendance at the elementary level (K-5).
The administrator will maintain a record of teachers that have completed the training.
Monitoring attendance-taking procedures will take place weekly by the IMT Clerk and as requested by administration.
Twice each quarter, School Counselors will monitor BASIS and Data Warehouse to set goals for students in school-wide recognitions.

B. Engage Students and Families
School staff will be encouraged to reach out to parents by phone or email to remind parents about the importance of attendance in the early grades.
Front office staff will meet each month to discuss customer service responsibilities and adapt procedures for ensuring a welcoming environment when visitors enter the front office (students, parents, guests, District staff).
The Attendance Phone line will be checked and cleared daily by the attendance clerk.

C. Recognize Good and Improved Attendance
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.

D. Provide Personalized Outreach
School staff will host a transition meeting for students moving from Pre-K into Kindergarten. 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 their senior year. K-Roundup
Attendance will be included on all student report cards.

E. Remove Barriers
This school provides free breakfast for all students, every school day.
A bike rack enclosed in a lock 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.
Host parent night in February 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

A. Monitor Data 
Each week, the leadership team will review the non-attendance report from Opti-Spool during leadership meetings. Students will be identified, and teachers will be notified which of their students might be at-risk.
Bi-Weekly, using BASIS, the leadership/RtI team will identify students that have enough absences to be considered chronically absent.
Teachers will monitor attendance using Pinnacle and BASIS and consult with support staff for help in redirecting absenteeism behavior.
If a pattern of non-attendance is developing, whether the absences are excused or not, administration will schedule a meeting with the parent to identify potential remedies.   Administration will also discuss Attendance policy and the BTIP process and parent will be requested to sign an attendance agreement if they have not already signed. 

B. Engage Students and Families
School Counselors, as part of the leadership team and support, will reach out by phone to speak with parents of chronically absent students to identify if any support is needed for the family.
If needed, parents and student will work with the School Counselor or School Social Worker to develop a personalized “Student Success Plan for Attendance” to make sure the child doesn’t miss too many days and get back on track with good attendance. There is a correlation between good attendance and good academic performance.

C. Recognize Good and Improved Attendance
We will work with students and families to set attendance goals and time frames that are attainable to help improve attendance for at-risk or chronically absent students.
Recognize these students routinely for good and improved attendance. Positive reinforcement and trusting relationships with staff improve attendance.

D. Provide Personalized Outreach
Parent-Teacher Conferences with support staff will be scheduled to discuss absences and challenges to identify the barriers we may be able to assist with.

E. Remove Barriers
Involve the school nurse when necessary to follow-up on medically related absences and train staff to recognize signs of illness.
Connect families with the School Social Worker to provide insight as to the role of a School Social Worker, establish a relationship, and provide clinical support and services.

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

On the elementary level, initial truancy interventions are provided by the CPST, or by the school at the 5-day BTIP meeting.
 
Parent(s)/guardian(s) are notified via letter from the State Attorney to meet with BTIP designee/Administration regarding non-compliance with attendance policy 5.5.  Administration, School Social Worker and parent(s)/guardian(s) discuss reasons for non-attendance.   A plan of action will be developed, and an attendance agreement will be signed.   Non-compliance after the plan has been developed will result in charges being filed with the State Attorney’s office.

A. Monitor Data
Identify students with a history of severe chronic absenteeism (missing more than 20% of a school year).
Attendance data is one of the main metrics brought to discussion for Collaborative Problem-Solving Team (CPST) and Response-to-Intervention (RtI). Attendance data may help uncover bigger issues the student or family are experiencing. The Broward Truancy Intervention Plan (BTIP) may initiate truancy letters to hold 5-day or 10-day meetings with the parents, principal (or designee), District representative, and State Attorney’s Office for the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.


B. Engage Students and Families
Refer students to appropriate service agencies (social services, human resources, counseling, housing, the HEART team for homeless education, or health services).

C. Recognize Good and Improved Attendance
For the students at Tier 3, appropriate positive reinforcements will be included in their “Attendance Success Plan” to support continued improved attendance. This plan will be developed with the parents, School Counselor, and School Social Worker. Plans and goals will be shared with the child’s teachers.
Tangible incentives may be utilized to help students and parents improve attendance.

D. Provide Personalized Outreach
Ensure continued positive and regular contact with the family.
Consult with the School Social Worker as a resource for helping families with attendance problems.
When the student misses school, ensure the assigned personnel is following up on each absence.

E. Remove Barriers
Implement agreed upon family intervention plan. Monitor for progress.
Connect students with chronic physical and mental health issues to medical providers.