Baltimore City Schools
Absenteeism and its ill effects start early. _____ in 10 kindergarten and first grade students are chronically absent.
What is one?
Missing 10% of the school days.
What is the definition of chronic absenteeism as a %?
Nurture a sense of belonging in the school and classroom, make each student feel valued, continue to support students who are struggling to achieve, engage all learners
What is/are some things staff can do make the classroom and school feel more like a safe family type environment to reduce chronic absenteeism in your classroom and school?
Chronic absences in K-1 cause low achievement on 3rd grade standardized math/reading.
What is/are the earliest effects of chronic absence?
Know the definition for this, track this carefully, and monitor exactly who is being identified as having this trouble right now.
What is/are the first steps to helping with chronic absenteeism?
(True / False) Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half of the students who miss 2 – 4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school.
What is true?
18 or more days
What is the definition of chronic absenteeism in numbers for the year?
Call home, ask what is going on that prevents the student from being in school, track attendance closely, encourage & invite the student and families, make "sunshine calls" when students are in school
What is/are ways to show your awareness and alert parents to missing too much school?
Lower 3rd grade math/reading achievement scores predict higher drop out rates of 64% (4 times higher than good attenders with lower scores) and failure to graduate.
What is the effect of early chronic absences on high school?
Keep generating data and act on it, Develop school wide plans for prevention & intervention before it is too late, Create and deploy positives to support & engage students and families.
What are ways to address chronic absenteeism early on and address it positively?
37.2% of students in Baltimore City are classified as this.
What is chronically absent?
This includes "excused" and "unexcused" absences.
What is the types of absences that constitute chronic absenteeism?
Stay alert, teaching friendshipping, hold high expectations against bullying/harassment, build personal relationships with them
What is make the classroom a safe place for kids to come to each day and to fit in?
Weaker social/emotional skills, and higher probability of mental health issues and of engaging in substance/alcohol abuse.
What is/ are non -academic consequences associated with chronic absenteeism?
Ask/call home- find out what is going on, link home to school/community resources (case management), act as mentors to specific children, praise improvements, don't discipline (shame) the absences for the child.
What are further actions we can take to help?
Chronic absenteeism causes students to miss learning opportunities, and therefore score lower on achievement tests, be retained, or engage in a self-imposed sabbatical from school.
What is the impact of chronic absenteeism in Baltimore City Schools?
Chronic illnesses, asthma, mental illness, family support or caring for family members, lack of transportation, lack of motivation, bullying/harassment, family perspective on education, lack of engagement, no sense of value/belonging in school, school climate, academic difficulties,
What is/are some of the more common reasons students are absent?
Praise students, be sure to log attendance and get incentives at incremental levels, mentor good attendance through the year by keeping personal contact with students and parents.
What is ways to incentivize attendance improvements?
Families who experience a lower socioeconomic status or who live in poverty have higher rates of this problem in our schools.
What are factors affecting chronic absentee rates?
Raise awareness, hold trainings/informational meetings, bring community partners on board, COMMUNICATE the information & consequences, Evaluate/reflect on efforts, and revise as needed.
What is carrying out successful chronic absenteeism interventions by involving the community?
When schools have a problem with chronic absenteeism, this also affects students with good attendance, including a lack of forward progress and increased teacher time spent on review & intervention.
What is an impact of chronic absenteeism in BCPS?
Missing 2 days each month of school
What is chronic absenteeism?
Prizes, competition between classes, gift cards for parents or students, pictures on bulletin boards, positive letters home, graphs per class on bulletin board
What is teacher/staff positive rewards having an effect on attendance this year?
family issues, school perceptions, school safety, and chronic illness are four key root causes
What is/are reasons for chronic absenteeism?
Families, schools, communities, and even court systems working in cooperation to communicate the issue, find successful options, bring many on board to help, reward the positive and reduce the negatives.
What are the people and organizations responsible for working together to combat chronic absenteeism most successfully?