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.

Silver Lakes Elementary will implement interventions listed below to increase percentage of students in attendance for 90% or more days measured monthly as compared to the 2017-2018 school year.

Goal 1: To increase percentage of students in attendance for 90% or more days by 10%  as  compared to the 2017-2018 school year (from 56% to 66%). Monitor the observed decrease in satisfactory attendance from semester 1 to semester 2 in all grade levels (parent link, morning announcements, communication in student agenda, improved attendance recognition and rewards, social media - Twitter, etc. 
Goal 2: To reduce chronic absenteeism by 1% in 2017-2018 across all grade levels (K-5)  as compared to attendace data from 2017-2018 (from 11% to 10%).
 

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:

1. Administration will ensure all teachers have completed the brainshark training for taking classroom attendance at the elementary level. A record will be kept of teachers that have completed the training.
2. Monitoring attendance-taking procedures will take place weekly by the Attendance Clerk and as needed upon request.
3. Twice each quarter, School  Counselor will monitor BASIS and DWH to set goals for students in school wide recognitions.
4. At the beginning of each month, administration and School Counselor will request from the IMT to provide a report of currant year attendance categories to monitor improvement and steer the direction of attendance initiatives.

1. 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
2. Principal will provide updates via Parentlink regarding attendance, celebrating students that are attending 95% or more.
3. Front office staff will meet twice a quarter to discuss customer service responsibilities and adapt procedures for insuring a welcoming school environment when visitors enter the front office (students, parents, families, staff).
4. School Twitter account will follow and reTweet relevant messages about attendance for our stakeholders.
5. The Attendance Phone Line will be checked and cleared daily by the attendance clerk.
6. Attendance Line (phone number) easily accessible on the school website
7. Promote attendance using our school's Twitter account, Facebook account, and teacher website.During grade-level assemblies, open house, emphasize the importance of attendance.
8. Spotlight attendance information for students and families  for the quarter and reward students for excellent attendance.
9. Provide students with information about the importance of being in class every day during morning announcements.
10. Ensure that all teachers are trained to take attendance accurately. Encourage all to take attendance in a timely and accurate manner. Communicate attendance concerns and compliments during parent-teacher conferences by classroom teacher. 
11. School Counselor will meet with SSW on a monthly basis to review and discuss attendance data

1. Administration will ensure that students have opportunities to participate in District Wide Attendance recognition events (certificates, Miami Heat games, Florida Panthers, Marlins, etc. )
2. Facilitate school based recognition events.

1. Staff will host a transition meeting for students moving from PK to Kindergarten and facilitate KG Roundup for incoming KG students. Families will met the team of teachers, tour the school, and learn about the importance of regular attendance for their child's academic success.
2. Attendance will be included on all students' report cards.
3. Integrate information about chronic absences into parent programs and communication throughout the year.

1. Provide breakfast for all students (free)
2. A bike rack enclosed in 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.

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

1. School Counselor will review the non attendance report from Opti Spool during leadership meetings. Students will be identified and teacher swill be notified which of their students might be at risk. Classroom teachers will also notify counselor of students who have difficulties with absenteeism and tardiness
2. Teachers will monitor attendance using Pinnalce and BASIS and consult with counselor for help in redirecting absenteeism behavior.
3. School Counselor will monitor attendance with the leadership team to help identify students that may have a need for more wrap around services (ssw, rti, etc. )
4. Monitor attendance data during RtI meeting of students in  the RtI process.

1. School counselor will reach out by phone to speak with parents of chronically absent students to identify if any support is need for the family (barriers).
2. 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
3. Staff will identify any family needs and connect the family with services via school counselor referral (food pantry, clothing assistance, etc. )

1. 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.
2. Recognize these students routinely for good and improve attendance. Positive reinforcement and trusting relationship with staff improved attendance (e.g.mentoring program)

1. 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.
2. Engaging students and parents through positive communication that supports a good relationship between the school and family.
3. Providing information about support from the Student Services Department such as School Social Worker, Family Counseling, HEART, etc. and providing for identified family needs (food, clothing, school supplies, etc. ).
4. Referral for in house mentoring program on campus to enhance student connectedness to school

1. Involve public agencies, community partners, and resources as needed to address barriers identified through parent conferences, communication with family, etc. 

   Involve the school nurse when necessary to follow up on medically related absences and train staff to recognize signs of illness (or avoidance).

2. Connect families with the SSW 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

Monitor Data:

1. Identify students that have a history of missing 20% or more of school and are at-risk due to other challenges. Identify students with a history of severe chronic absenteeism (missing more than 20% of a school year).
2. Leadership team will monitor the non attendance report from Optispool, BASIS to identify students missing too many days.
3. CPST referral. Discuss attendance data of students in RtI process. Attendance data may help uncover bigger issues the student and family are experiencing. May also shed light on student challenges due to lack of exposure.

1. Refer students to appropriate service agencies (social services, human resources, counseling,housing, the HEART team for homeless education, or health services)
2. Share data with appropriate agencies and ensure that agencies are using chronic absence as an indicator for assisting families
3. Utilize best practices from schools within the District that have been able to decrease chronic absences and increase satisfactory attendance.
4. The Broward Truancy Intervention Plan (BTIP) may indicate truancy letters to hold 5-day or 10-day meetings with the parents, principal or  designee, District representative and state attorneys office.

1. 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 social worker. Plans and goals will be shared with the classroom teacher.

1. Ensure continued positive and regular contact with the family
2. Check in on attendance success plans (monitoring)and communicate with parents and teachers at regular intervals. Modify as needed.
3. Consult with SSW as a resource for helping families with attendance issues.
4. When the student misses school, ensure the assigned teacher, ssw, or counselor is following up on each absence.

1. Implement agreed upon family intervention plan. Monitor progress.
2. For case suspected abuse, neglect or endangerment, contact the appropriate agencies to report.