Addressing Attendance

Using PBIS to improve school-wide attendance

Amy Beller, LCSW-C

School Social Worker

Wiley H. Bates Middle School

Annapolis, Maryland

410 263-0270

abeller@aacps.org

Students with poor attendance in Elementary School are more likely to be truant in middle school

and high school

School nonattendance is a problem that

affects students, families and the

community. Not only are students with

poor attendance less likely to do well in

school, they are more likely to drop out of

school all together, have a lower self-

esteem and are less likely to find good

jobs in the future. When children are not

in school, they are also more likely to get

involved in illegal activities in the

community.

PBIS and ATTENDANCE

Use data to define attendance problem

Use three tier approach (green zone, yellow zone, red zone) to design school wide, group and individual interventions

Teach students/parents that attendance is expected

Use positive reinforcement for achievement of attendance expectations

Using DATA to define the problem

Types of Data

Yearly Data

Monthly Data

Day of the Week

Individual Student

# of DAYS PRESENT

# of DAYS ENROLLED

SASI = ATD09

Samples

82

84

86

88

90

92

94

96

SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN

2005/2006

2006/2007

Yearly Attendance Average by Grade

2005/2006

85

86

87

88

89

90

91

92

93

94

95

96

97

98

99

100

1

6th 7th 8th

Number of Abs by Day of the Week

2005/2006

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

MON TUE WED THUR FRI

SEPT

OCT

NOV

DEC

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

AVG

92.81

93.62

94.55 94.6

91

92

93

94

95

ATTENDANCE DATA

02/ 03 03/ 04 04/ 05 05/ 06

Is it individual students or a

school-wide problem?

Number of Abs by Student

167 163124

354

0

50

100

150

200

2 to 5 abs 5 to 10

abs

10 to 20

abs

20 to 40

abs

40 or

more abs

SASI= ATD09

DATA INTERVENTION

GREEN ZONE 0-4 ABS/year

YELLOW ZONE 5-10 ABS/year

RED ZONE 11+ ABS/year

GREEN ZONE

School Wide Attendance Incentive

Programs

1. GROUP REWARDS

• The power of peer pressure

• Positive reinforcement

• Build upon naturally occurring group affiliation (i.e. Homeroom, Classroom, Team, Grade)

GREEN ZONE

School Wide Attendance Incentive

Programs

EXAMPLES

Perfect Attendance = Plenty of Pizza

Attendance is Your Ticket to the Movies

Harman Elementary Students Make the Bus

Chillin’ at Bates for Breakfast

Perfect attendance = Plenty of

Pizza

Chillin’ at Bates

GREEN ZONE

School Wide Attendance Incentive

Programs

2. Individual Rewards • Rewards those students who are

always good

• Positive Reinforcement

• VISIBILITY!

EXAMPLES: Icecream, Cookies, Bracelets, Certificates, Perfect Attendance Lunch etc.

GREEN ZONE

School Wide Attendance Incentive

Programs

3. Other • Postcards

• Prevention letters

• Attendance Mentors

• Check in Program

• Certificates

• End of the year Perfect Attendance Lunch

• Attendance News

Attached please find sample postcards to send home notes to parents/students regarding

attendance. How can I use the postcards you ask???

You can use it to reinforce when students are attending school!

Dear Student,

Did you know that you have attended school every day for the

last two weeks??!!

Way to go!!!

When you come to school every day, it really makes a

difference!

From, Ms. Teacher

You can use it to remind students to come to school!

Dear Student,

I have really missed you in school. We have been studying

rocket ships this week! I hope that you will be in tomorrow so I

can tell you about more of the exciting projects we are working

on!!

From, Ms. Teacher

You can use it as a tool for communicating your concerns about attendance to parents

Dear Parent,

I have really missed having your

child in class. I am sure you would

agree that daily attendance is

essential for school success. Please let

me know if there is a way I can help

you with your child’s daily

attendance.

Sincerely, Ms. Teacher

Dear Parent, I am happy to report that your child has been coming to school every day and on time!!! I can’t wait to share with you how well he is doing in class!! Sincerely, Mr. Teacher

Just place your postcard in the attendance envelope and send to the front office –

Maddie or Karla will mail it for you!!!

Ph: 410 222-6930/Fax: 410 222-6932

August 26, 2005

Dear Parents,

Walls are being painted and posters are being hung! The Harman Staff is looking

forward to a great year in our new setting! School opens for business on Wednesday,

August 31st and we can’t wait to get the show rolling! We are hopeful that all of our

students will have the opportunity to shine this year and it is for that reason that I am

writing to you today. I am sure that you would agree that daily attendance is essential for

school success. It is our hope that you will work with us to achieve improved attendance

this school year.

Daily attendance is particularly important at Harman due to our Open Court Reading

Program and Saxon Math Program. When students are absent they are missing

IMPORTANT daily instruction that cannot be sent home as make-up work.

School nonattendance is a problem that affects students, families and the community.

Not only are students with poor attendance less likely to do well in school, they are more

likely to drop out of school all together, have a lower self-esteem and are less likely to

find good jobs in the future. When children are not in school, they are also more likely to

get involved in illegal activities in the community.

The good news is that you can help! Make sure you send your child to school every day

on time unless it is medically necessary to keep them home. Make sure your kids are

getting enough rest and are ready for school in time to walk or catch the bus. We look

forward to continuing our partnership with you to ensure your children’s success in

school. If you foresee any problems with your child’s attendance this year, please call

me; I look forward to being able to help!

Sincerely,

Amy Beller, LCSW-C

410 222-6930

Harman Elementary School

presents

In recognition of Perfect Attendance during the 2005/2006 School Year

Date Signature

Anne Arundel County Public Schools

Ima Here

“I get on the Bus” Award The

May 25, 2007 CONGRATULATIONS!!! As you well know, your child has had perfect attendance ALL SCHOOL YEAR!!! And thanks to a generous donation from Ginger Cover Continuing Care Retirement Community, we are taking your child out to lunch to celebrate!!!! We will be walking to downtown Annapolis to go to Pusser’s Landing in the Annapolis Marriott Hotel. We will enjoy a fine lunch sitting on the deck next to the water!!! I can’t wait! Please complete the attached permission slip as soon as possible and return to school. Thank you for all you do to support your child in coming to school every day!!!! If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 410 263-0270. Sincerely, Amy Beller School Social Worker Attendance Queen!

YELLOW ZONE

Group Interventions

Who will take on this project

??????

YELLOW ZONE

Group Interventions

1. Keep track of number of absences (SASI ATD09)

2. Notify teacher responsible (homeroom)

3. Teacher contact (phone call, meeting with student, letter)

4. 4. Attendance Log -- Documentation

(Sample Letters available on Minerva – Help Manual -- Appendix)

YELLOW ZONE

Group Interventions

5. Keep track of progress – Tracking Log

6. Meet/Speak with parents/students

(Case management/Counseling)

YELLOW ZONE

Group Interventions

7. Guidance/Social Worker Letter

8. Administration Letter – warning referral for possible legal action

(Sample Letters available on Minerva – Help Manual -- Appendix)

Together at Bates

Revised ATTENDANCE Plan (Jan 2007)

2005/2006 Stats

Yearly percentage rate 91.83%

318 students were absent 10 or more times

67 students were absent 30 or more times

11 students were absent 60 or more times

INTERVENTION PLAN

(OR anytime a teacher is concerned

about a child’s attendance)

1st of month

Social Worker generates a list of students who have missed 5 days of school and disseminates to

Teams

cc: guidance, admin

1st week of month

Teacher makes parent contact, mails form letter. Attaches copy of letter to LOG. Puts in Social

Worker’s Box (Amy Beller)

Child Continues to be Absent from School

Social Worker consults with Guidance

Social Worker/Guidance contacts home (phone/home visit), sends warning letter

Attaches copy of letter to LOG.

Child Continues to be Absent from School

Social Worker sends letter from Administration stating if absences continue then a referral to PPW

for possible legal action will occur.

Child Continues to be Absent from School

Social Worker makes referral to PPW.

Intervention Date # of Abs. Comments

Initial Referral

Teacher phone call

Teacher letter*

Referral to Guidance

Guidance phone call

Guidance letter*

Referral to Social Worker

SW phone call/homevisit

SW letter

Administrator Letter

Referral to PPW

* Please attach copy of letter to LOG

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE INTERVENTION LOG

Harman Elementary 2004-2005

Identified Student: ___________________________________________

Teacher:___________________________________________________ Grade: _________

Administrator: Sue Bachmann Social Worker: Amy Beller

School Wide Attendance Intervention Plan Y or N Attendance Mentor Y or N

TEACHER INTERVENTIONS:

A. Conference with student on ______________________________.

Comments / Summary

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

B. Conference with parent (phone/ face to face/ postcard*) on

_______________________.

Comments / Summary

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

C. Formal written communication sent home to parent on ________________. (place copy in CUM!) D. Classroom teacher referred the student to the Social Worker on

__________________________ .

II. SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKER INTERVENTIONS:

A. Prevention Letter sent Y or N

B. Conference with student on ______________________________.

Comments / Summary

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

C. Conference with parent (phone/ face to face) on _______________________.

Comments / Summary

____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

D. Sent social worker letter on ____________________________.

III. ADMINISTRATOR INTERVENTION:

A. Conference with student on ______________________________.

Comments / Summary

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

B. Conference with parent (phone/ face to face) on _______________________.

Comments / Summary

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

C. Written communication sent home to parent on ________________.

D. Letter sent requiring doctor’s note for all absences due to illness Y or N

*Postcards to be sent when there is not a working phone number listed for family.

*The Principal must sign the referral. Attachments to include the attendance checklist and

attendance card or SASI report.

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INDIVIDUAL INTERVENTIONS OTHER REFFERALS

– DSS (Family Preservation) – JIFI – Counseling – Pediatrician – Housing

PPW REFFERAL

– PROJECT ATTEND (Anne Arundel County) – State’s Attorney’s Letter – Court Appearance (make sure parent brings a lawyer)

Possible Consequences: Jail time, fines

CELEBRATE SUCCESS!

Monthly Percentage of Students in Attendance

Wiley H. Bates Middle School Attendance Statistics

82

84

86

88

90

92

94

96

98

SEPT OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB M AR APR M AY JUN

2005/2006

2006/2007

2007/2008

EVALUATION

Interview staff and students

1. Did your reward programs motivate students?

2. Suggestions to improve process (attendance logs, etc.)

3. Suggestions to improve attendance procedures