The second webinar of the 2024 Attendance Awareness Campaign, “Essential Partnerships for Showing Up: Families, Youth and Community” (held on May 15, 2024), focused on engagement approaches designed to improve attendance for K-12 students.
At the start of the webinar, Kwesi Rollins, Vice President for Leadership and Engagement at the Institute for Educational Leadership discussed how schools provide opportunities for academic, social and personal development, enabling students to pursue their dreams. Relationships play a pivotal role in achieving these goals, he noted.
While there’s been a slight improvement in chronic absenteeism nationwide, estimated at 2% – 3%, based on available state data, significant challenges persist, said Hedy Chang, Executive Director of Attendance Works. The ripple effects of high chronic absence rates are profound. These high levels not only hamper teachers’ ability to effectively educate but also undermine the establishment of classroom norms.
Check out this video showcasing how Children’s Aid in New York City has been a source of motivation and inspiration for students, encouraging them to attend school every day.
Yolie Flores, CEO/President, Families in Schools, focused on practical measures to combat absenteeism among young students and their families. She underscored the importance of clear communication regarding attendance policies. This includes consistent messaging and more frequent communication to reinforce the significance of regular attendance. She stressed the need to cultivate positive student-teacher relationships.
Eric Fontanez, Supervisor of Equity Initiatives, Bethlehem Area School District, talked about several issues that are hindering attendance, particularly for older students. The impact of reduced student engagement post-pandemic has led to a loss of social skills and meaningful connections. Fontanez works to foster a supportive and engaging environment, to rebuild student connections and create spaces where students feel they belong.
Jill Pereira, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, outlined United Way’s partnership with schools that focuses on inclusive communities and chronic absenteeism. United Way acknowledges challenges for teachers and the importance of prioritizing physical and mental engagement in learning. They also help schools tackle persistent barriers like transportation and economic challenges.
Annie Reed, Executive Director, Thriving Schools at Kaiser Permanente, emphasized the vital link between health and education and noted the positive impact of attendance on student well-being. She shared the origins of school health practices, born from a pink eye epidemic in New York City, and showed how untreated health issues can lead to absenteeism. Reed described a recent district where illness was the primary cause of absenteeism. Explore the Thriving Schools initiative here.
Register today for the remaining Attendance Awareness Campaign webinars!
- Creating a Culture of Belonging and Engagement: Principals In Action
Wednesday, August 7, 2024: 12-1:30 pm PT / 3-4:30 pm ET
- Leadership for Sustainability: Superintendents Making a Difference
Wednesday, September 25, 2024: 12-1:30 pm PT / 3-4:30 pm ET
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