Quick Tips: Attendance
OSPI caught up with Washington schools who have had success in building a positive culture and supporting student attendance!

I connected with Chronically Absent students from last year over the summer to make a success plan for this year. We have school teams that meet monthly that include nurse and counselors; Edison Elementary School went from 385 unexcused absences to 42! Bayview Elementary is designing a welcoming center in the front hallway to encourage parents to come inside the school that will include coffee, PTA and bilingual secretary to assist. Check and Connect mentors meet with students THREE times a day to check on them. Lucille Umbarger Elementary is developing ways to celebrate good attendance including recognition, awards and assemblies.
Kim Welling, Burlington-Edison School District
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We focus on “Great Attendance” instead of “Perfect Attendance”. We post monthly attendance % on website and hold monthly grade-level competitions for highest regular attendance %. We create opportunities to earn unstructured time with a school mentor as a reward (e.g. lunch, game-time, bring 1 friend along). We purchase alarm clocks (& batteries) to have on hand. The principal and/or counselor visit EVERY classroom at the beginning of the year to discuss the importance of attendance and explain the steps we will take to support them. We include information about attendance and the consequences of chronic absenteeism in our September Newsletter and translate these materials for our families. We work with local businesses to donate incentives for students.
Regina Brown, Centralia School District
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We have a truancy board made up of staff and community members. We have developed incentives at each school for students with good attendance. The counselors, administrators and teachers are reaching out to families of chronically absent students. The court staff has been meeting with the school staff to brainstorm ideas of consequences for students who miss school intentionally.
Barbara Askland, Sedro Woolley School District
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We do attendance presentations for Kindergarten parents during Kinder-only week of camp. We send Attendance Awareness flyers & coloring pages distributed over summer through free lunch in the park and at local mental health and health clinics. We provide perfect attendance T-shirts, especially popular in schools where there is a uniform policy. We post Attendance Awareness yard signs on district property, local apartment complexes, and at Community Based organizations. Our elementary schools have classroom competitions (e.g. learn a popcorn party, pizza party, free dress day). We have Attendance Intervention Teams at every school that meet monthly.
Renata Joseph, Federal Way Public Schools
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We host attendance incentive events such as Super Saturday and provide $5 gas cards to parents. We have a Success Mentoring Program, and make Attendance Plans with students who missed 10% of their school year.
Julie Schillreff, Mt. Adams School District

