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.

In 2017-2018, the grade level with the most students with Chronic absences was fourth grade with 42 total students. These students are now in fifth grade. Our goal with this cohort is to reduce the number of student with Chronic absences by 10% (10 students)for the 2018-19 school year. 
Detailed, strategic data-driven attendance plan that will provide clear measurable objectives.  

We have an ongoing school-wide attendance campaign, including recognition for good attendance, attendance awareness letters, and certificates.

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

• At the beginning of each month, the administrative team will request from the IMT to provide a report for current year attendance categories to monitor improvement and steer the direction of attendance incentives.
• Twice each quarter, administration and attendance manager will monitor BASIS and Data Warehouse to set goals for students in school-wide recognitions.
• Monitoring attendance-taking procedures will take place weekly by Attendance Clerk and as requested by the administration.

• School staff will be encourages to reach out to parents by phone or email to remind parents about the importance of attendance in all grades
• Principal will provide ongoing updates via ParentLink and PTA meetings regarding average daily attendance and Chronic Absenteeism categories celebrating the students that are attending 95% or more.
• The Attendance Phone line will be checked and cleared daily by the attendance clerk.

• The administrator responsible for attendance will ensure that students have opportunities to participate in District-wide Attendance recogniition events.
• School-based attendance recognition events will occur throughout the school year.  These will include quarterly certificates and school based attendance recognition. 

• Attendance will be included on all student report cards
• School staff will host a transition meeting for students moving 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.
• Integrate information about chronic absence into parent programs and communications throughout the school year.

• The school will host parent nights throughout the year to inform parents about services, programs and District policies.
• Free breakfast is provided every school day.
• A bike rack is available for students that arrive by bicycle.  The rack is locked after school begins and is unlocked and monitored by staff after school.

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:

• Weekly, using BASIS the designated administrator will identify students that have enough absences to be considered chronically absent
• Teachers will monitor attendance using BASIS and consult with support staff for help in redirecting absenteeism behavior
• The school counselor will monitor attendance with the attendance team to help identify students that may have been a need for more wrap around services.
• Each week, the designated administrator will review the non-attendance report from Opti-Spool.  Students will be identified, and teachers will be notified which of their students might be at-risk.

• The attendance team, as part of the leadership team and support will reach out by phone to speak with parents of chronically absent students to identiy if any support is needed.
• If needed, parents and students will work with 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.
• Staff will help identify any family needs and connect the family with services.

• Quarterly recongize students for good and improved attendance.  Positive reinforcement and trusting relationships with staff improve attendance.

• 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.

• Involve public agencies, community partners and resources as needed to address barriers identified through parent conferences, communications with family, or other sources.
• Connect families with Social Worker to provide insight as to the role of 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

Monitor Data

• Identify students with a history of severe chronic absenteeism (missing more than 20% of the school year)
• Leadership team will monitor the non-attendance report from Opti-Spool, data from Basis to identify students that are missing too many school days.
• Attendance data brought to discussion for CPST and RTI.  Seeking any data that may help uncover bigger issues the student or family is experiencing.

• Refer students to appropiate service agencies
• Share data with appropiate agencies and ensure that agencies are using chronic absence as an indicator for assisting families.
• Utilize best practices from schools within the District that have been able to decrease chronic absences and increase satisfactory attendance.
• The Broward Truancy Intervention Plan may initiate truancy letters to hold 5-day or 10-day meetings with the parents, principal or District rep, and State Attorney's Office for the 17th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.

• 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 childs teachers.
• Tangible incentives may be utilized to help students and parents improve attendance.

• Ensure continued positive and regular contact with the family
• Check-in on Attendance Success Plans and communicate with parents at regular intervals.
• 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.

• Implement agreed upon family intervention plan.  Monitor for progress.
• Connect students with chronic physical and mental health issues to medical providers.
• For cases of suspected abuse, neglect or endangerment, contact the appropriate agencies to report.