Collective Impact in Kern County Effective Strategies to

Collective Impact in Kern County: Effective Strategies to Reduce Chronic Absence Kern Pledge www. attendanceworks. org July 18, 2018

About Us Attendance Works is a non-profit initiative that advances student success and closes equity gaps by reducing chronic absence. Since our launch in 2010, we have become the nation’s “go to” resource for student attendance with more than a quarter million annual users of our website (www. attendanceworks. org) We work at the local, state and national level – with each level of practice informing and influencing the other. Our cross-cutting objectives are to: a. b. c. d. Nurture proven and promising practice Promote meaningful and effective communications Advance better policy Catalyze needed research 2

What is Chronic Absence? Excused absences Unexcused absences Chronic absence is missing so much school for any reason that a student is academically at risk. Attendance Works recommends defining it as missing 10% or more of school for any reason. Suspensions Chronic Absence Chronic absence is different from truancy (unexcused absences only) or average daily attendance (how many students show up to school each day). © www. attendanceworks. org 3

Requires Quickly Advancing A New Paradigm on Attendance Truancy • Counts unexcused absences • Emphasizes individual compliance with school rules • Uses legal, typically more punitive solutions © Chronic Absence • Counts all absences • Emphasizes academic impact of missed days • Uses preventive problem solving, relationship building strategies www. attendanceworks. org 4

Student Attendance is Strongly Associated with Academic Success K-1 st Grade: Students who attend regularly in the early grades perform better on measures of academic and social and emotional capacities. 3 rd Grade: Students who attend school regularly are more likely to be able to read proficiently by the end of 3 rd grade. Middle School Success: Students who attend school regularly are more likely to have passing grades in middle school High School Completion: Students who attend school regularly are more likely to graduate from high school College Completion: Students who attend school regularly in high school are more likely to persist in college and graduate 5

8 million students missed 15 days or more Source: http: //blogs. edweek. org/edweek/inside-schoolresearch/2018/04/chronic_absenteeism_states_civil_rights_data_2015_2016. html © www. attendanceworks. org 6

Partners for Change The greater the size of the challenge, the more partners are needed. Many different types of partners can be enlisted, but local government and public agencies are especially important. Businesses Community Schools Initiatives Family Support Organizations Early Childhood Providers Faith Based Organizations. Health Providers Housing Agencies Hunger Relief Organizations Institutes of Higher Education Local Government National Service/ Volunteers/Mentors Out of School Time providers Social Emotional Learning Providers Social Services Population-Specific Service or Civic Organizations Philanthropy (including foundations and United Ways) We also encourage folks to tap into existing initiatives and coalitions as resources for engaging/convening potential partners. 7

36 states + DC adopted chronic absence as a metric in their ESSA plans. The vast majority adopted the definition recommended by Attendance Works. Who's In: Chronic Absenteeism Under the Every Student Succeeds Act Future Ed, Georgetown University, September 2017. © www. attendanceworks. org 8

How Can We Address Chronic Absence? 9

Invest in Prevention and Early Intervention 10

Organizing your tiered attendance strategy

Tier 1 Strategies Examples • Positive engagement strategies such as: relational home visits, kindergarten roundups • Attendance messaging • Recognition of good and improved attendance • Attendance contests • Providing the basics school-wide (e. g. breakfast in the classroom, clothes closets) • Health (Flu shots, reducing asthma triggers) 12

Attendance begins with creating a warm and welcoming school climate Let’s watch this video demonstrating the difference a positive school climate can make. Turn to the person next to you and answer the following questions together: • How did the beginning of the video make you feel? • How did you feel during the second part of the video when the school staff took a positive approach to their engagement? • What makes it hard for schools to maintain a positive school climate? https: //drive. google. com/file/d/0 Bz. Iu 72 R 1 Zx. XYWUI 1 S 1 h. IM 25 • Popcorn Share 0 a. VE/view 13

Parents underestimate the number of year-end absences Ad Council research commissioned by the CA Attorney General asked parents with students with a history of absence about their children’s absences in two ways: 1. Was your child absent an average of 2 or more days a month? 2. Was your child absent more than 10 days over the year? Missed an average of 2+ days per month 90% Missed 10+ days annually 30% 60% of parents said their child was absent an average of 2+ days a month, but not 10+ days a year The math: If a child is absent an average of 2+ days a month, then he/she is absent far more than 10+ days a year 14

Chronic Absence is Easily Masked if We Only Monitor Missing Consecutive days Chronic Absence = 18 days of absence = As few as 2 days a month 15

Parents More Likely to Consider Attendance a “Big Deal” in High School % who say “it’s a big deal to miss at this grade level” 63% 49% 71% 84% 71% 47% 37% 79% 41% 48% 56% 23% Pre-K Kindergarten Grades 1 -3 Grades 4 -5 Middle School High School Ad Council – CA Attorney General – Parent Ethnographies 2015 16

Parent Video & Discussion Guide Bringing Attendance Home Video (6 minutes) ü Facilitated conversation ü The consequences of chronic absence ü How to improve absenteeism ü Family practice ü Increase social capital ü Identify how school can help ü Community services http: //www. attendanceworks. org/tools/for-parents/bringing-attendance-home-video 17

Example #1 Grand Rapids and Challenge 5 https: //vimeo. com/141651803 18

Download Challenge 5 collateral at Believe 2 Become http: //believe 2 become. org/programs/c hallenge-5/

Example #2 Cleveland Metropolitan School District Cleveland, Ohio 21

Cleveland Metropolitan School District Demographics • Cleveland has 37, 000 scholars o 67 K-8 schools o 3 K-12 schools o 32 9 -12 schools • 100% on Free and Reduced Price Lunch • 65% African-American, 15% White, 16% Hispanic/Latino; 9% Limited English Proficient 23

Data Context • • • In 2014 -15, chronic absenteeism (missing more than 18 days) approached 50% district-wide. Attendance strongly related to: – Math and Reading scores on state assessments (OAA & OGT) – The probability of being on-track to graduate The first 10 absences from school decreases Math scores by 15 points. – The next 10 absences decrease Math scores by 5 points The first 10 absences from school decreases Reading scores by 12 points. – The next 10 absences decrease Reading scores by 4 points. Increased absences are significantly and substantively related to going off track to graduate. – The first 10 absences are associated with a 34% drop in probability of being “on-track” to graduate for 9 th and 10 th graders – Change from 73% to 39% 24

“Get 2 School, You Can Make It!” • In the summer of 2015, with the CEO’s commitment and leadership, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) launched an attendance campaign to address one of the most significant barriers to student achievement, chronic absenteeism. – Ohio Department of Education =Chronic Absenteeism missing at least 10% (18 days) of the full academic year for any reason – CMSD = Chronic Absenteeism missing at least 10 days for the full academic year for any reason 25

Campaign Activities • Established a campaign committee • Outreach to stakeholders in labor, central office and departments who touch attendance: transportation, security, secretaries, principals to be a part of the campaign • Outreach to partners in the community including the Cleveland Browns, Mc. Donalds, Cleveland City Council and county leaders, Faith Based Community, local businesses, parent groups 26

• • Attendance Strategies Phone Banking Canvassing Clap Ins College Scholarship Opportunities with PBS Giveaways/Celebrations Social Media Professional Development 27

Outcomes: The Numbers Percent Chronically Absent 43. 00% 41. 00% 39. 00% 37. 00% 35. 00% 33. 00% 2013 2014 2015 2016 Percent Chronically Absent Students missing 10+ days 58. 00% 57. 00% 56. 00% 55. 00% 54. 00% 53. 00% 52. 00% 51. 00% 50. 00% 49. 00% 48. 00% 2013 2014 2015 2016 Students missing 10+ days 28

Additional Resources

Are We Taking a Data Driven Systemic Approach? Positive Engagement: Uses caring relationships, effective messaging and a positive school climate to motivate daily attendance. Distr ity un omm ict C Positive Engagement Actionable Data: Is accurate, accessible, and regularly reported in an understandable format. Actionable Data Schools Students & Families Shared Accountability Capacity Building Expands ability to work together to interpret data, engage in problem solving, and adopt best practices to improve attendance. Shared Accountability: Ensures chronic absence is monitored & reinforced by policy. Strategic partnerships between district and community partners address specific attendance barriers and mobilize support for all ingredients. © http: //www. attendanceworks. org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/District-Self-Assessment-Tool-5 -Ingredients-8 -7 -2016. pdf www. attendanceworks. org 30

Accessing the SEAT 1. Register for the free tool at: http: //www. attendanceworks. org/resources /scan-environment-attendance/ 2. AW Team will setup an account for them and send an invitation via Basecamp within 72 hours 3. Complete account set-up and login to Basecamp 31

How to Register for Teaching Attendance • To learn more, go to: http: //www. attendanceworks. org/resources/tea ching-attendance-curriculum/ • Click the self-registration button • You will receive a confirmation email with an invitation to take Teaching Attendance Module 1: Why We Teach Attendance • Enjoy! © www. attendanceworks. org 32

Attendance Awareness Month 2018 Share the AAM website: http: //awareness. attendanceworks. org/ • Like us on Facebook • Tweet using #schooleveryday • Add a badge to your signature line or materials • Write blog post on your website promoting regular attendance and Attendance Awareness Month! © www. attendanceworks. org 33

PROMOTE LOCALLY Resources Available for 2018 • Download our free promotional materials and online toolkit to share with local districts. • Count Us In! will be updated with a new focus on state leadership, health, and early childhood education • Find resources and the Count Us In! toolkit on our microsite: http: //awareness. attendancewor ks. org © www. attendanceworks. org 34

Superintendent’s Call to Action Own the issue Mobilize the Community Drive with Data To sign-up for the Call to Action, or to learn more, please visit: www. attendanceworks. org/superintendents-call-to-action © www. attendanceworks. org 35

Webinar Schedule for 2018 March 28: Leadership Matters May 8: Working Together Matters August 15: Community Matters September 12: Annual Brief released http: //awareness. attendanceworks. org/resources/webin ars/ © www. attendanceworks. org 36

Questions from the Audience 37