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Student attendance resources

How can a trusted caring adult impact student attendance? A short review of the research and literature

Read the literature review here

Attendance Reports from Provinces and States

“A place where it feels like home: the story of Tina Fontaine” The Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth writes “ Tina Fontaine might always be known for the tragic way in which she died, but it is her life that is an important story worth knowing. It was on August 17, 2014, when most …

Attendance policies

How to Write a School Attendance Policy That Improves Attendance clearly defines terms related to attendance along with a clear process. It may not be what your board needs but you get the idea. Whatever the terms of any policy and process, they need to be clear. California School Boards Association (CSBA) has a sample …

Check & Connect: Alterable Risk and Protective Factors

Check & Connect set up a terrific list of Alterable Risk and Protective Factors associated with school dropout. Many of these apply directly to chronic absenteeism as well.

Failing literacy grades

Here is a great parental resource and Graphic from Living Sky School Division, Saskatchewan illustrating how by Grade 3, 58% of students with absenteeism of only 2 days per month can read at grade level versus 92% of good attenders who read at Grade 3 level. Failing grades in English language is an early indicator …

Indicators and Predictors of Absenteeism

Predicting absenteeism as early as primary school supported by research below.

Checklist of Absenteeism Protective Factors and Risk Factors

Some of the  protective factors for students that can mitigate and address absenteeism:(Adapted from CHECK & CONNECT Protective Factors associated with school dropout, Regents of University of Minnesota, 2017) Some of the risk factors or reasons impacting student attendance were:  (check all that apply) (adapted from Dr. Chris O’Connor, Dr. Tyler Frederick Ontario Tech University …

Student Attendance Early Indicators 

 (SAE  Indicators) Early detection of attendance patterns by school staff through the SAE Indicators can prevent chronic absenteeism and change a trajectory of poor school attendance.  Early interventions by a caring adult are enhanced by Attending to Student Absenteeism:TWO by TEN (ATSA: TWO by TEN) where there is a moderate level of concern.  Where there …

Absenteeism – Forms and Handouts

When setting up a school attendance team whether it’s emerging, developing or proficient, this is a helpful Team Self Assessment from Attendance Works. Attendance Works has put together a District Self Assessment Tool in order to address 5 key ingredients: actionable data, positive engagement, capacity building, shared accountability and strategic partnerships. Check & Connect set …

Helpful strategies to address chronic absenteeism in Tiers 1,2 & 3

Addressing chronic absenteeism resource below uses helpful strategies for Tier 1, 2, & 3. Check out Tier 1 strategy on p. 20 on Restorative Discipline and Tier 2 strategies on p. 21 “Early Warning Systems” and on p. 23 “Mentors” Read full resource A guide to using “Attendance Playbook: Smart Strategies for reducing chronic absenteeism …

Engaging Parents as Partners

A potentially easy solution to reducing chronic absenteeism – write a letter in simple language to parents about number of days misses. “Modified truancy notifications that used simplified language, emphasized parental efficacy, and highlighted the negative incremental effects of missing school reduced absences by 0.07 days compared to the standard, legalistic, and punitively-worded notification—an estimated …