Category: Policies for Attendance

Remote learning is here to stay: RAND report key US findings

“About two in ten districts have already adopted, plan to adopt, or are considering adopting virtual school as part of their district portfolio after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. District leaders cited reasons related to student and parent demand for continuing various forms of online instruction in future years.”

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Tracking attendance as pandemic stretches presents challenges for school districts

“the nonprofit Center for Reinventing Public Education found that little more than 1 in 4 districts required taking attendance at all once schools moved to remote learning during the first wave of pandemic quarantines. But there’s wide variation in how districts are asked to monitor student attendance, and experts argue existing systems intended to flag students who need support may fall short because of it.”

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A Turning Point for Combating Chronic Absenteeism in American Schools by Gabby Smith

“The shift from simply keeping track of attendance to actively reaching out to struggling students and families may seem subtle, but it could have life-altering positive consequences. “

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Are Students Present and Accounted For? An Examination of State Attendance Policies During the Covid-19 Pandemic: a US study from Attendance Works

“This report discusses how the coronavirus pandemic impacted attendance data. It presents a summary of state attendance guidance developed since spring 2020, and examines the extent to which recent state guidance guarantees the availability of consistent, reliable data taken on a daily basis.”

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How Schools Adjusted to Life Under COVID-19: a RAND survey of principals in immediate aftermath of school closures

“As parents, teachers, and students learned the hard way this year, not many schools had a plan in place to guide them through an extended school closure. When COVID-19 emptied classrooms from coast to coast, it was—as one school official in Maine said—“literally like building a new educational system overnight.”

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The Covid Pivot: Addressing Chronic Absence Made a Difference for Hickman Mills

“The significant attendance improvements throughout the district came about with a multi-pronged approach, HMC-1 leaders say. Efforts included an increased knowledge of and capacity building for attendance practices; stable, strategic district leadership; intentional positive relationships with families and students; intentional use of data to support a core group of students; and, a cohesive, dedicated group of collaborative partners working together to achieve positive results.”

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In Chicago, a firmer hand — and some confusion — on student attendance

““Routine does support learning,” said Hedy Chang of the nonprofit Attendance Works. “There’s routine and there’s flexibility. Both are actually really important.”

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Remote Learning Is Tough for Many Students. How ‘Early-Warning’ Data Can Help Schools Support Them

“Like the lights on a dashboard telling you something’s wrong, an early-warning system uses indicators—missed days, falling grades, or a sudden rash of disciplinary actions—to identify which students need more help. “

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Taking attendance for online schooling a team effort: an example from Maricopa Unified School District

“All MUSD students must submit a weekly log to the school “for evidence of learning time.” Each student must also either be present for the daily synchronous lessons or submit work for the day on an online platform. “

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Promising Practices Brief:Improving Student Engagement and Attendance During COVID-19 School Closures

“The brief provides a resource to
states and districts on promising practices in measuring
and improving attendance and engagement during
extended school closures.”

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