{"id":12511,"date":"2024-07-25T15:57:42","date_gmt":"2024-07-25T15:57:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.schoolstatus.com\/?p=12511"},"modified":"2024-10-16T20:43:27","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T20:43:27","slug":"starting-strong-maximizing-attendance-in-the-first-month-of-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schoolstatus.com\/blog\/starting-strong-maximizing-attendance-in-the-first-month-of-school","title":{"rendered":"Starting Strong: Maximizing Attendance in the First Month of School"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The first weeks of school are crucial for setting the tone for the entire academic year, especially when it comes to attendance. Research shows<\/a> that absenteeism in September can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. In fact, half of the students who miss 2-4 days in the first month go on to miss nearly a month of school overall. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite this, a recent NPR study<\/a> revealed that only 5% of parents consider chronic absenteeism a major concern. This disconnect highlights the need for a robust back-to-school attendance campaign that educates families about why attendance is critical to student success, in school and beyond. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make Attendance a Community Challenge<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One fun way schools can establish positive attendance patterns from the outset is to launch a “First Month Attendance Challenge.” Creating a campaign focused on perfect attendance for the first month of school is not only a great way to educate parents about the critical importance of early attendance, it\u2019s also a slam dunk for establishing good attendance habits from Day 1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the steps to follow: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Announce the challenge to the community before the new school year starts. <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Try a Top 10 Reasons for Attendance list<\/a> that you share via your newsletter, social media, or centralized communication platform (like SchoolStatus Connect) as a launch.
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2. Engage the Community: <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Involve the PTO, class representatives, and teachers in promoting the attendance challenge. This community-wide approach reinforces the importance of attendance and creates a supportive environment for families.
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3. Prioritize Personalized Outreach: <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Before the school year begins, have teachers and counselors connect one-on-one with families, either via text, phone, or video chat, especially those who have struggled with attendance in the past. Use these conversations to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n