Student Learning…Student Success…Students Prepared for Life

published October 14, 2011

If we expect that our students learn, experience success, and are prepared for life then their attendance to school is critical. This moment briefly shares information about the district’s approach to improving attendance and presents a plan of action that brings a predictable approach throughout the district.

A committee of principals and central office administrators met to discuss policy and they examined our practice district-wide. Becky Eckhardt chaired this committee with the goal of identifying strengths and potential gaps in our approach to attendance, and with creating a plan of action that moved from early prevention to potential legal action. The results of their work can be found in the attendance support plan attached in this email.

The “Attendance Support Plan” explains the three levels of intervention. We are already doing most of what you find on the plan so much of this should not be new information. What will be new are two goals. The first goal is to take a more preventative approach earlier to eliminate attendance problems with interventions becoming more intense when students continue to exhibit problems with their attendance. The second goal focuses on bringing a consistent, systematic approach across the district.

The process for implementing the attendance support plan will begin with principals, building secretaries, and with our guidance counselors. Each building will present this information in the manner that best fulfills its needs and the needs of our staff.

Please do not hesitate to visit with your building principal, with Becky Eckhardt or with me if you have any questions about the attendance support plan. Hopefully you found this information useful.

Have a great weekend.

Vern