0:00:00.829,0:00:05.460 thank you for your interest in this 0:00:03.000,0:00:08.519 three-part webinar series on ending 0:00:05.460,0:00:10.920 chronic absenteeism in Kentucky this 0:00:08.519,0:00:13.559 second webinar entitled learning about 0:00:10.920,0:00:15.420 causes and interventions takes a closer 0:00:13.559,0:00:17.580 look at why students struggle with 0:00:15.420,0:00:24.000 regular attendance and ways in which we 0:00:17.580,0:00:25.949 can support these students this webinar 0:00:24.000,0:00:28.050 series is produced by the Kentucky 0:00:25.949,0:00:30.420 Department of Education Division of 0:00:28.050,0:00:32.160 Student Success with support from the 0:00:30.420,0:00:33.960 Appalachian Regional comprehensive 0:00:32.160,0:00:37.309 center funded in part by the US 0:00:33.960,0:00:37.309 Department of Education 0:00:38.820,0:00:42.160 there are three objectives for this 0:00:41.469,0:00:44.769 webinar 0:00:42.160,0:00:46.930 first we explore reasons for chronic 0:00:44.769,0:00:49.870 absenteeism based on national research 0:00:46.930,0:00:51.489 findings second we share some promising 0:00:49.870,0:00:53.890 practices that have increased regular 0:00:51.489,0:00:56.229 attendance and last we'll hear from 0:00:53.890,0:01:00.030 Kentucky district personnel about their 0:00:56.229,0:01:00.030 work in addressing chronic absenteeism 0:01:03.129,0:01:08.330 research compiled by attendance works 0:01:05.860,0:01:11.720 categorizes the root causes of chronic 0:01:08.330,0:01:14.840 absenteeism into four main reasons myths 0:01:11.720,0:01:17.440 about missing school barriers to getting 0:01:14.840,0:01:21.160 to school aversions to schooling and 0:01:17.440,0:01:21.160 disengagement with school 0:01:22.840,0:01:28.909 myths and misperceptions held by parents 0:01:26.090,0:01:32.420 caregivers and students can perpetuate 0:01:28.909,0:01:34.310 absenteeism in webinar 1 we talked about 0:01:32.420,0:01:36.560 the difference between truancy which 0:01:34.310,0:01:39.680 focuses on unexcused absences and 0:01:36.560,0:01:41.270 chronic absenteeism which focuses on 0:01:39.680,0:01:44.960 missed learning time for any reason 0:01:41.270,0:01:47.240 excused or unexcused there is still a 0:01:44.960,0:01:50.479 misperception that only unexcused 0:01:47.240,0:01:52.310 absences are a problem in addition there 0:01:50.479,0:01:54.979 is the belief that missing days here and 0:01:52.310,0:01:56.750 there overtime is ok because the student 0:01:54.979,0:02:00.800 doesn't miss an extended period all at 0:01:56.750,0:02:03.200 once parents caregivers and students do 0:02:00.800,0:02:06.500 not always realize that missed days add 0:02:03.200,0:02:08.420 up we also know from national and state 0:02:06.500,0:02:10.670 data that there are higher rates of 0:02:08.420,0:02:13.370 chronic absenteeism in preschool and 0:02:10.670,0:02:15.680 kindergarten one reason for the absence 0:02:13.370,0:02:17.870 trend in younger grades is the myth that 0:02:15.680,0:02:20.269 only missing in the higher grades is 0:02:17.870,0:02:22.670 problematic because of academic rigor 0:02:20.269,0:02:25.930 and the false belief that this is not 0:02:22.670,0:02:25.930 true for early grades 0:02:29.260,0:02:33.290 students can face various barriers that 0:02:31.970,0:02:36.410 prevent them from getting to school 0:02:33.290,0:02:38.930 regularly chronic health problems like 0:02:36.410,0:02:41.450 asthma or depression can keep students 0:02:38.930,0:02:43.400 at home frequently a lack of health care 0:02:41.450,0:02:46.069 and dental services can also exacerbate 0:02:43.400,0:02:47.600 illness some students have 0:02:46.069,0:02:49.670 responsibilities for taking care of 0:02:47.600,0:02:51.770 younger siblings or other family members 0:02:49.670,0:02:54.980 which takes precedence over school 0:02:51.770,0:02:57.550 attendance there may be unmet basic 0:02:54.980,0:03:01.070 needs such as reliable transportation 0:02:57.550,0:03:04.160 housing clean clothing and food that 0:03:01.070,0:03:06.350 impact schooling trauma and a student's 0:03:04.160,0:03:08.570 life can create anxiety and fear that 0:03:06.350,0:03:11.989 impacts their ability to focus on or 0:03:08.570,0:03:13.640 attend school some students particularly 0:03:11.989,0:03:16.459 those from communities experiencing 0:03:13.640,0:03:18.819 violence can feel unsafe even getting to 0:03:16.459,0:03:18.819 school 0:03:19.710,0:03:23.890 aversions are those factors that 0:03:21.820,0:03:26.380 influence negative feelings about school 0:03:23.890,0:03:28.570 such as avoiding class because of 0:03:26.380,0:03:31.950 academic or social struggles being 0:03:28.570,0:03:34.210 bullied or an unwelcoming school climate 0:03:31.950,0:03:35.830 parent behaviors and attitudes have a 0:03:34.210,0:03:38.200 strong influence on regular school 0:03:35.830,0:03:41.050 attendance so if parents or caregivers 0:03:38.200,0:03:42.790 had negative experiences themselves this 0:03:41.050,0:03:45.450 can impact a student's value on 0:03:42.790,0:03:45.450 education 0:03:46.219,0:03:52.230 lack of engagement is another underlying 0:03:49.260,0:03:53.700 cause of chronic absenteeism students 0:03:52.230,0:03:56.430 may not perceive instruction to be 0:03:53.700,0:03:58.530 engaging or relevant to their lives they 0:03:56.430,0:03:59.909 may skip school to be with friends or 0:03:58.530,0:04:01.769 students may not feel meaningful 0:03:59.909,0:04:04.290 connections with teachers or staff at 0:04:01.769,0:04:06.390 school there may be higher rates of 0:04:04.290,0:04:08.340 suspension or disciplinary actions for 0:04:06.390,0:04:14.519 these students and some students may be 0:04:08.340,0:04:16.620 disproportionately affected so how do 0:04:14.519,0:04:18.269 schools and districts create a culture 0:04:16.620,0:04:21.150 of attendance to address these root 0:04:18.269,0:04:23.669 causes be clear about the data on 0:04:21.150,0:04:26.460 attendance collect and analyze the data 0:04:23.669,0:04:28.650 for example student demographic data and 0:04:26.460,0:04:31.229 trends and when students miss school 0:04:28.650,0:04:33.650 throughout the year and share that data 0:04:31.229,0:04:35.729 with appropriate staff members 0:04:33.650,0:04:37.860 communicating a message that attendance 0:04:35.729,0:04:40.500 is a priority in the classroom school 0:04:37.860,0:04:42.270 building and within the community raises 0:04:40.500,0:04:45.210 awareness and can support early 0:04:42.270,0:04:47.039 intervention public outreach can 0:04:45.210,0:04:49.740 mobilize community supports and 0:04:47.039,0:04:52.289 engagement it's important to understand 0:04:49.740,0:04:54.539 the root causes specific to your school 0:04:52.289,0:04:57.440 or district to then find ways to address 0:04:54.539,0:04:57.440 those causes 0:05:01.680,0:05:06.820 this conceptual framework offers a 0:05:04.900,0:05:09.490 tiered approach to addressing chronic 0:05:06.820,0:05:11.530 absenteeism going from Universal 0:05:09.490,0:05:13.330 lower-cost approaches to more 0:05:11.530,0:05:16.870 individualized and higher cost 0:05:13.330,0:05:18.700 interventions based on needs tier 1 0:05:16.870,0:05:20.530 targets students with satisfactory 0:05:18.700,0:05:23.800 attendance and those at risk of being 0:05:20.530,0:05:26.560 chronically absent interventions focus 0:05:23.800,0:05:28.090 on monitoring data educating students 0:05:26.560,0:05:30.070 and families about the importance of 0:05:28.090,0:05:32.260 regular attendance and providing 0:05:30.070,0:05:35.530 positive messages and rewards for good 0:05:32.260,0:05:38.710 and improved attendance tier 2 focuses 0:05:35.530,0:05:40.270 on more personalized outreach and action 0:05:38.710,0:05:44.290 planning for students who are missing 10 0:05:40.270,0:05:46.240 to 19 percent of days tier 3 target 0:05:44.290,0:05:48.790 students with severe chronic absenteeism 0:05:46.240,0:05:52.870 with a focus on intensive case 0:05:48.790,0:05:54.160 management evaluation studies of 0:05:52.870,0:05:56.560 initiatives to address chronic 0:05:54.160,0:05:57.330 absenteeism provide evidence of their 0:05:56.560,0:05:59.920 effectiveness 0:05:57.330,0:06:02.440 these include early warning tools and 0:05:59.920,0:06:04.720 data monitoring like Kentucky's Infinite 0:06:02.440,0:06:07.090 Campus data on attendants chronic 0:06:04.720,0:06:09.100 absenteeism and the early warning tool 0:06:07.090,0:06:11.669 that uses attendance in its dropout risk 0:06:09.100,0:06:14.110 calculation among other factors 0:06:11.669,0:06:16.270 providing positive messaging to parents 0:06:14.110,0:06:18.550 and caregivers for example through home 0:06:16.270,0:06:20.950 visits provides an opportunity for 0:06:18.550,0:06:22.630 education on the issue understanding why 0:06:20.950,0:06:26.380 a child is chronically absent and 0:06:22.630,0:06:28.360 changing behaviors and attitudes text 0:06:26.380,0:06:30.460 messaging alerts to parents when their 0:06:28.360,0:06:32.470 student was absent had positive results 0:06:30.460,0:06:35.110 for secondary students in a West 0:06:32.470,0:06:37.510 Virginia district and this alert system 0:06:35.110,0:06:39.630 had spillover effects for close peers 0:06:37.510,0:06:43.090 skipping school together 0:06:39.630,0:06:45.520 safe passage to school programs exist in 0:06:43.090,0:06:48.430 high crime communities to help students 0:06:45.520,0:06:50.770 arrive safely cities like Chicago and 0:06:48.430,0:06:52.720 Baltimore have had success hiring adults 0:06:50.770,0:06:56.919 to monitor the vicinities around schools 0:06:52.720,0:06:58.390 and to help establish security extended 0:06:56.919,0:07:01.240 day or summer programs offer 0:06:58.390,0:07:03.040 opportunities to engage students for 0:07:01.240,0:07:05.080 example teen centers that help with 0:07:03.040,0:07:06.970 homework or enrichment programs that 0:07:05.080,0:07:09.680 foster cultural artistic and 0:07:06.970,0:07:12.270 recreational experiences 0:07:09.680,0:07:14.130 mobilizing community agencies can help 0:07:12.270,0:07:17.160 address the basic needs barriers 0:07:14.130,0:07:19.440 described earlier Baltimore for example 0:07:17.160,0:07:21.590 has had success integrating social 0:07:19.440,0:07:24.560 workers into their response teams 0:07:21.590,0:07:26.610 particularly for students in foster care 0:07:24.560,0:07:29.910 social workers use the school attendance 0:07:26.610,0:07:32.220 data to identify at-risk youth and make 0:07:29.910,0:07:34.200 visits to support them student 0:07:32.220,0:07:37.080 communications such as incentive 0:07:34.200,0:07:39.570 programs mentoring school-based case 0:07:37.080,0:07:41.730 management and peer developed outreach 0:07:39.570,0:07:44.510 media have all been effective in 0:07:41.730,0:07:44.510 reducing absenteeism 0:07:46.770,0:07:52.660 now we want to focus on stories from the 0:07:49.840,0:07:54.400 field in Kentucky the following are 0:07:52.660,0:07:56.470 highlights of interviews conducted with 0:07:54.400,0:07:58.240 colleagues in Kentucky who have gained 0:07:56.470,0:07:59.860 insights that can be helpful to other 0:07:58.240,0:08:02.830 districts as they address chronic 0:07:59.860,0:08:05.110 absenteeism district and school-based 0:08:02.830,0:08:07.570 staff from Russell independent schools 0:08:05.110,0:08:09.280 in Breathitt County were asked about the 0:08:07.570,0:08:11.380 data they use and what they learned from 0:08:09.280,0:08:13.900 it and interventions that have helped 0:08:11.380,0:08:16.480 them raise their attendance rates these 0:08:13.900,0:08:18.070 excerpts are intended to spark ideas and 0:08:16.480,0:08:20.800 generate conversation for peer-to-peer 0:08:18.070,0:08:24.190 sharing we thank Anthony Thompson 0:08:20.800,0:08:26.380 Sabrina McElroy and Anna Chaffin for 0:08:24.190,0:08:29.160 their time and insights we welcome 0:08:26.380,0:08:29.160 hearing from others 0:08:31.209,0:08:36.589 first we hear from Anthony Thompson 0:08:33.729,0:08:41.149 director of student support services for 0:08:36.589,0:08:43.310 Russell Independent Schools given that 0:08:41.149,0:08:45.500 data analysis is an important part of 0:08:43.310,0:08:48.050 the process in identifying students at 0:08:45.500,0:08:49.880 risk we wanted to know if there were 0:08:48.050,0:08:51.920 specific student groups that stood out 0:08:49.880,0:08:55.190 with higher rates of chronic absenteeism 0:08:51.920,0:08:57.769 in this clip Anthony Thompson describes 0:08:55.190,0:09:00.019 using Infinite Campus and the early 0:08:57.769,0:09:03.529 warning tool to identify students who 0:09:00.019,0:09:06.230 are chronically absent of course in 0:09:03.529,0:09:09.500 Kentucky we have infinite campus which 0:09:06.230,0:09:12.110 is an exceptional tool and so we use the 0:09:09.500,0:09:15.410 kentucky day count and we run that 0:09:12.110,0:09:18.529 constantly to make sure by percentage 0:09:15.410,0:09:22.970 how many students are are chronically 0:09:18.529,0:09:25.220 absent and then once we once we kind of 0:09:22.970,0:09:27.529 get our numbers and drill down to who 0:09:25.220,0:09:29.930 those students are we'll compare that to 0:09:27.529,0:09:32.180 the Infinite Campus early warning tool 0:09:29.930,0:09:34.370 in the early warning tool and infinite 0:09:32.180,0:09:36.649 campuses is awesome they continue to 0:09:34.370,0:09:38.660 improve that but that gives us 0:09:36.649,0:09:41.839 information okay if a student is 0:09:38.660,0:09:44.630 chronically absent and their number is 0:09:41.839,0:09:46.430 high risk on that early warning tool we 0:09:44.630,0:09:48.410 don't have to go any further to wonder 0:09:46.430,0:09:50.779 when to start intervening on behalf of 0:09:48.410,0:09:54.079 that student so that's that's kind of a 0:09:50.779,0:09:56.420 part of our process you asked me if if 0:09:54.079,0:09:58.790 chronic absenteeism applies to a 0:09:56.420,0:10:05.930 particular group and I would say it does 0:09:58.790,0:10:09.589 not what we find is that students have 0:10:05.930,0:10:11.959 who have less supports at home can can 0:10:09.589,0:10:14.930 be more truman's so that's a 0:10:11.959,0:10:18.880 socio-economic issue chronic absenteeism 0:10:14.930,0:10:18.880 really covers the gauntlet 0:10:24.529,0:10:26.589 you 0:10:27.090,0:10:31.300 in this kind of question is we hear 0:10:29.920,0:10:33.640 about the importance of water sometimes 0:10:31.300,0:10:35.740 education with families and insurers as 0:10:33.640,0:10:37.930 in the intervention there's drilling 0:10:35.740,0:10:39.580 intervention that matters there are a 0:10:37.930,0:10:41.200 lot of things you can do there's policy 0:10:39.580,0:10:43.930 that you can put in place that helps 0:10:41.200,0:10:46.920 that reinforces the good interventions 0:10:43.930,0:10:50.410 but the best intervention is frequent 0:10:46.920,0:10:53.740 consistent intelligent contact with 0:10:50.410,0:10:57.490 families and districts have to do that 0:10:53.740,0:10:59.680 however they can for us or small so when 0:10:57.490,0:11:01.510 we run our list if you're on the list 0:10:59.680,0:11:05.560 and you're absent today we're at your 0:11:01.510,0:11:07.360 home and we are polite we don't you know 0:11:05.560,0:11:09.460 we're not the police we're encouraging 0:11:07.360,0:11:12.160 but our goal when we go to people's 0:11:09.460,0:11:14.260 homes is to inform them that they are 0:11:12.160,0:11:16.300 that they've missed more than 10% of 0:11:14.260,0:11:20.070 their enrollment this year and to offer 0:11:16.300,0:11:23.170 our assistance as far as how can we 0:11:20.070,0:11:25.540 continue to be more connected to the 0:11:23.170,0:11:27.880 learning environment and that's only 0:11:25.540,0:11:29.230 good for children and only good for 0:11:27.880,0:11:31.630 families and here's what we find on 0:11:29.230,0:11:34.210 every front porch every parent wants 0:11:31.630,0:11:36.460 their child to have the most success 0:11:34.210,0:11:38.620 they can and most of the time when they 0:11:36.460,0:11:40.960 hear God's ten percent ten percent seems 0:11:38.620,0:11:43.300 like a big number and so we're out there 0:11:40.960,0:11:46.150 consistently they know we're going to 0:11:43.300,0:11:47.980 come they're not afraid of us 0:11:46.150,0:11:49.660 necessarily and and they know they're 0:11:47.980,0:11:52.740 going to be encouraged that's the best 0:11:49.660,0:11:57.090 intervention that would that we've 0:11:52.740,0:11:57.090 Thompson describes student outreach 0:11:57.820,0:12:02.800 and in my district and we're small we 0:12:00.820,0:12:07.720 can get our arms around things but when 0:12:02.800,0:12:12.220 a student is disenfranchised one of the 0:12:07.720,0:12:14.710 reasons for chronic absenteeism I I'm 0:12:12.220,0:12:17.290 like every other educator in Kentucky if 0:12:14.710,0:12:19.570 I identify that problem I'm like we got 0:12:17.290,0:12:22.330 from Allstate all right here you are you 0:12:19.570,0:12:24.820 are in my hands right and so I try to 0:12:22.330,0:12:26.950 make every interaction every every 0:12:24.820,0:12:30.220 intervention personal I would say to a 0:12:26.950,0:12:34.120 child I will chain myself to you before 0:12:30.220,0:12:35.740 I allow you to fail and it's one thing 0:12:34.120,0:12:38.760 to say it it's another thing to mean it 0:12:35.740,0:12:42.720 and more the people I work with in 0:12:38.760,0:12:45.490 Kentucky schools they mean it and so 0:12:42.720,0:12:48.310 when I when I encounter a student I know 0:12:45.490,0:12:51.100 that they are there either in crisis or 0:12:48.310,0:12:53.050 they need a crisis I make sure that I 0:12:51.100,0:12:57.700 that I hang in there and provide that 0:12:53.050,0:13:00.430 for them and all of my peers work in 0:12:57.700,0:13:05.080 that same way everybody has a great way 0:13:00.430,0:13:08.230 to illustrate their policies for young 0:13:05.080,0:13:09.750 people making concrete policies where 0:13:08.230,0:13:14.500 they understand it at our high school 0:13:09.750,0:13:16.960 there are there consequences for not 0:13:14.500,0:13:19.060 being in school one of those we try to 0:13:16.960,0:13:25.560 articulate is that you know there's 0:13:19.060,0:13:28.360 something innate about being among the 0:13:25.560,0:13:30.040 liberal arts culture that's good for you 0:13:28.360,0:13:32.440 that's hard for a 9th grader to 0:13:30.040,0:13:34.210 understand we want them to understand 0:13:32.440,0:13:39.730 that that's hard for them that the other 0:13:34.210,0:13:42.520 thing is if you missed 62 days and you 0:13:39.730,0:13:44.590 don't have a viable reason for that you 0:13:42.520,0:13:46.990 might not walk the states for graduation 0:13:44.590,0:13:49.420 so those are things you need to be aware 0:13:46.990,0:13:52.210 of that that does raise antennas in our 0:13:49.420,0:13:53.830 district fortunately you know we haven't 0:13:52.210,0:13:55.390 had to apply those kinds of things very 0:13:53.830,0:13:58.600 often because kids are getting on board 0:13:55.390,0:14:01.380 but it's out there and you know that's 0:13:58.600,0:14:05.640 been approved and it's it's a tool 0:14:01.380,0:14:07.740 that's at our disposal we asked Anthony 0:14:05.640,0:14:09.030 Thompson for the advice he would share 0:14:07.740,0:14:12.780 with districts looking at chronic 0:14:09.030,0:14:14.700 absenteeism in new or different ways he 0:14:12.780,0:14:16.410 provides some supporting data to share 0:14:14.700,0:14:20.390 with school board members on cost 0:14:16.410,0:14:20.390 savings and consistent messaging 0:14:21.970,0:14:28.850 things that you can take to your school 0:14:24.050,0:14:30.200 board are after the first year and a 0:14:28.850,0:14:31.880 half that took us about a year and a 0:14:30.200,0:14:35.240 half to really get our program off the 0:14:31.880,0:14:43.730 ground among this group of chronic 0:14:35.240,0:14:47.570 absenteeism and instructional minutes 0:14:43.730,0:14:50.120 saved so those are kind of concrete 0:14:47.570,0:14:52.430 thing buying brand new to this and I'm 0:14:50.120,0:14:55.040 recognizing chronic absenteeism as a 0:14:52.430,0:14:58.100 reality in my district for the first 0:14:55.040,0:15:02.260 time I'm number the very first thing is 0:14:58.100,0:15:05.750 to get your administrative wheel-turning 0:15:02.260,0:15:09.680 your superintendent has to appreciate 0:15:05.750,0:15:11.750 the problem and if you can make that 0:15:09.680,0:15:15.380 happen and your principals appreciate 0:15:11.750,0:15:18.200 the problem then you can begin to have 0:15:15.380,0:15:21.950 initiatives the second thing is what 0:15:18.200,0:15:24.589 does consistent contact mean to your 0:15:21.950,0:15:26.510 district to my district that means I go 0:15:24.589,0:15:29.120 out to people's homes every single day 0:15:26.510,0:15:30.680 when they're absent not every district 0:15:29.120,0:15:33.980 can do that but you can send a letter 0:15:30.680,0:15:35.870 you can make a phone call the Robo call 0:15:33.980,0:15:38.990 thing kind of that needs to go that a 0:15:35.870,0:15:42.020 real person needs to contact families in 0:15:38.990,0:15:44.060 and make sure that they have a way to do 0:15:42.020,0:15:47.360 that and establish communication and 0:15:44.060,0:15:50.180 then the third thing is remembering it's 0:15:47.360,0:15:52.390 easy to get a student in the door it's 0:15:50.180,0:15:55.899 another thing to motivate them to stay 0:15:52.390,0:15:58.120 so that's on the culture of your 0:15:55.899,0:16:01.790 experience 0:15:58.120,0:16:03.740 we asked Sabrina McIlroy principal of 0:16:01.790,0:16:06.430 Highland Turner elementary school to 0:16:03.740,0:16:06.430 share her insights 0:16:07.920,0:16:13.390 in her analysis of data regarding 0:16:10.480,0:16:16.370 student groups she noted higher levels 0:16:13.390,0:16:18.890 in the early grades 0:16:16.370,0:16:21.800 just looking at the chronic absenteeism 0:16:18.890,0:16:23.570 data just here recently getting ready to 0:16:21.800,0:16:25.310 start school I noticed that when I 0:16:23.570,0:16:27.380 looked at early as last year that we had 0:16:25.310,0:16:29.510 20 students that were actually on that 0:16:27.380,0:16:31.190 list and then when I broke that down 0:16:29.510,0:16:33.620 into percentages I looked at our 0:16:31.190,0:16:36.500 students that were in grades k-12 that 0:16:33.620,0:16:39.230 72% of those 20 students were in grades 0:16:36.500,0:16:42.770 k-12 and in those grades that's where 0:16:39.230,0:16:45.880 we're learning to read phonics count and 0:16:42.770,0:16:49.900 numbering all of all of those valuable 0:16:45.880,0:16:51.860 work that we need to make sure that our 0:16:49.900,0:16:54.890 kids are getting what they need for that 0:16:51.860,0:16:59.480 basic foundational skill and I know k12 0:16:54.890,0:17:01.190 is not an assist level however our in 0:16:59.480,0:17:03.529 our school what we look at when we look 0:17:01.190,0:17:05.240 at our data we look at it vertically so 0:17:03.529,0:17:07.069 we when we get our scores back for third 0:17:05.240,0:17:10.069 grade we really look at it and it's like 0:17:07.069,0:17:13.910 K one two and three are owners of that 0:17:10.069,0:17:15.949 data so it's not just our K 1 & 2 or a 3 0:17:13.910,0:17:18.140 being accountable but it's our K through 0:17:15.949,0:17:19.760 3 after this point is what's led to the 0:17:18.140,0:17:21.130 success or failure of those students in 0:17:19.760,0:17:24.740 grade 3 0:17:21.130,0:17:28.330 in this clip McElroy describes the value 0:17:24.740,0:17:30.710 of buy-in from teachers and parents I 0:17:28.330,0:17:32.480 feel like the most successful 0:17:30.710,0:17:33.860 intervention that we have are one of the 0:17:32.480,0:17:35.690 most successful interventions that we 0:17:33.860,0:17:37.700 have at our school is just me being an 0:17:35.690,0:17:40.970 active role not only in the community 0:17:37.700,0:17:42.500 but also in the school building building 0:17:40.970,0:17:44.090 the culture with the teachers having 0:17:42.500,0:17:46.520 everybody have buy-in and be a part of 0:17:44.090,0:17:47.929 it as well as getting their families to 0:17:46.520,0:17:50.420 have buy-in and be a part of our 0:17:47.929,0:17:54.320 attendance so I feel like if we educate 0:17:50.420,0:17:56.900 our parents better then maybe they will 0:17:54.320,0:17:58.520 think the same way as I do and know when 0:17:56.900,0:17:59.990 they send their students to school that 0:17:58.520,0:18:03.710 that's gonna be the best option for them 0:17:59.990,0:18:06.140 for the night Anna Chaffin adds her 0:18:03.710,0:18:08.179 insights as principal at Russell High 0:18:06.140,0:18:10.600 School in the Russell Independent School 0:18:08.179,0:18:10.600 District 0:18:12.140,0:18:16.020 Chaffin described her approach to 0:18:14.309,0:18:18.840 building school culture and teacher 0:18:16.020,0:18:20.940 buy-in russell high school uses a 0:18:18.840,0:18:23.309 committee approach using a range of 0:18:20.940,0:18:25.620 staff perspectives to look at data to 0:18:23.309,0:18:29.970 identify at-risk students and supports 0:18:25.620,0:18:32.429 to serve those children it was key for 0:18:29.970,0:18:36.080 us to make sure that our faculty knew 0:18:32.429,0:18:39.120 what we were doing so I started day one 0:18:36.080,0:18:42.059 pre-school start to explain the 0:18:39.120,0:18:44.400 difference between truancy and chronic 0:18:42.059,0:18:47.100 absenteeism and I needed them to 0:18:44.400,0:18:49.440 understand the definitions but also how 0:18:47.100,0:18:50.940 it impacted them and I think that was 0:18:49.440,0:18:53.880 key because what we were talking about 0:18:50.940,0:18:56.429 was not so much the student didn't bring 0:18:53.880,0:18:59.160 in a note but this is the number of 0:18:56.429,0:19:02.460 hours this child is not in your 0:18:59.160,0:19:04.980 classroom being positively impacted by 0:19:02.460,0:19:08.220 what you're doing and so for me as a 0:19:04.980,0:19:10.049 building principal it was more than yes 0:19:08.220,0:19:13.350 I want the child to come to school but I 0:19:10.049,0:19:16.200 also want that child to be influenced by 0:19:13.350,0:19:18.900 what you're doing and because I don't 0:19:16.200,0:19:20.549 have that at home a lot of times so that 0:19:18.900,0:19:22.410 was where we were coming for him so we 0:19:20.549,0:19:24.360 started day one getting the faculty on 0:19:22.410,0:19:27.690 board and that's where we kind of 0:19:24.360,0:19:30.270 morphed into the committee and so we 0:19:27.690,0:19:33.570 wanted committee members who were 0:19:30.270,0:19:37.380 passionate about students being in their 0:19:33.570,0:19:40.799 presence and so our committee has three 0:19:37.380,0:19:43.380 teachers two counselors assistant 0:19:40.799,0:19:46.710 principal myself the attendance clerk 0:19:43.380,0:19:50.220 and we meet and we are a safety net for 0:19:46.710,0:19:52.080 families and we touched them all so it 0:19:50.220,0:19:54.090 doesn't matter if they come from the 0:19:52.080,0:19:55.640 best house in our district or the worst 0:19:54.090,0:19:58.710 house they all have the same 0:19:55.640,0:20:02.130 conversation when it relates to their 0:19:58.710,0:20:04.380 attendance this example emphasizes 0:20:02.130,0:20:07.730 relationship building with students as 0:20:04.380,0:20:07.730 well as with community partners 0:20:07.990,0:20:13.899 I can't underestimate the relationship 0:20:10.570,0:20:16.539 piece to all of this but I had a company 0:20:13.899,0:20:18.940 approached me that they had some money 0:20:16.539,0:20:23.019 they wanted to put back into schools and 0:20:18.940,0:20:26.049 so we used that money to buy ping-pong 0:20:23.019,0:20:29.490 tables we bought two and the idea was 0:20:26.049,0:20:32.080 that if our attendance everyday reached 0:20:29.490,0:20:34.059 96% for the day we would bring these 0:20:32.080,0:20:35.470 ping-pong tables out during lunches we 0:20:34.059,0:20:38.080 have three lunches twenty about thirty 0:20:35.470,0:20:39.429 minutes each and so we'd set them but my 0:20:38.080,0:20:43.210 assistant principal and I would set them 0:20:39.429,0:20:45.399 up we have a student who he had a home 0:20:43.210,0:20:47.259 life that was a little bit had some 0:20:45.399,0:20:50.679 circumstances and some hurdles that he 0:20:47.259,0:20:53.230 had to overcome and we noticed that 0:20:50.679,0:20:55.029 every day when it was his lunch time he 0:20:53.230,0:20:56.409 was the first one to detect to the ping 0:20:55.029,0:20:58.119 pong table we said first one to the 0:20:56.409,0:21:00.429 table we didn't mean in the cafeteria we 0:20:58.119,0:21:03.129 made a think window and at the end of 0:21:00.429,0:21:06.549 the school year we recognized that his 0:21:03.129,0:21:08.529 attendance was above 96% and it was 0:21:06.549,0:21:11.049 because he came every day to play ping 0:21:08.529,0:21:14.470 pong and it was just it was fun to watch 0:21:11.049,0:21:16.899 we had a tournament he entered it you 0:21:14.470,0:21:19.419 know he did really well but that was a 0:21:16.899,0:21:22.049 draw for him and we were able to 0:21:19.419,0:21:22.049 celebrate it 0:21:22.769,0:21:27.549 Chaffin reiterates the importance of 0:21:25.119,0:21:30.520 consistent messages and policies across 0:21:27.549,0:21:33.350 the district 0:21:30.520,0:21:37.700 important that you have buy-in from your 0:21:33.350,0:21:39.080 faculty but also from your DPP your 0:21:37.700,0:21:43.310 director of pupil personnel your 0:21:39.080,0:21:44.660 superintendent those because what I do 0:21:43.310,0:21:46.190 at the building level I'm going to get a 0:21:44.660,0:21:47.960 phone call I'm gonna get an angry parent 0:21:46.190,0:21:50.150 and when they don't like my answer 0:21:47.960,0:21:51.590 they're gonna go above my head and I 0:21:50.150,0:21:53.630 have to know that the people above me 0:21:51.590,0:21:55.370 are supporting what we're doing at the 0:21:53.630,0:21:57.380 building level and that's a key piece 0:21:55.370,0:22:00.110 and I'm fortunate to be able to work 0:21:57.380,0:22:03.560 with side-by-side folks who have the 0:22:00.110,0:22:07.310 same vision and same passion for what we 0:22:03.560,0:22:09.320 do the lessons learned from our kentucky 0:22:07.310,0:22:11.500 colleagues reinforced strategies 0:22:09.320,0:22:14.330 described in the research literature 0:22:11.500,0:22:16.700 data from infinite campus and the early 0:22:14.330,0:22:18.620 warning tool helps staff target which 0:22:16.700,0:22:22.010 students are missing significant school 0:22:18.620,0:22:23.780 time and are at risk having policies in 0:22:22.010,0:22:25.310 place is important as is having 0:22:23.780,0:22:27.530 consistent understanding and 0:22:25.310,0:22:30.680 communication about those policies at 0:22:27.530,0:22:33.650 all levels this requires buy-in from 0:22:30.680,0:22:36.700 school board members DPP's teachers 0:22:33.650,0:22:38.810 parents caregivers and students 0:22:36.700,0:22:41.030 communication with families and students 0:22:38.810,0:22:43.010 should be positive personalized and 0:22:41.030,0:22:45.500 frequent to build supportive 0:22:43.010,0:22:47.270 relationships community partners are 0:22:45.500,0:22:49.240 valuable for providing additional 0:22:47.270,0:22:51.200 supports to students and families 0:22:49.240,0:22:55.030 experiencing challenges that keep 0:22:51.200,0:22:55.030 students from regular attendance 0:22:57.140,0:23:02.520 additional resources about root causes 0:22:59.750,0:23:04.740 interventions success stories and other 0:23:02.520,0:23:07.470 tools can be found on the KDE website 0:23:04.740,0:23:10.110 through attendance works and absences 0:23:07.470,0:23:12.570 add up and the US Department of 0:23:10.110,0:23:14.820 Education don't forget to watch the 0:23:12.570,0:23:18.830 third webinar in this series which 0:23:14.820,0:23:18.830 focuses on school and family engagement 0:23:20.780,0:23:26.250 more information is available through 0:23:23.310,0:23:28.200 KDE s division of student success within 0:23:26.250,0:23:32.570 the office of continuous improvement and 0:23:28.200,0:23:32.570 support thank you for watching