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Addressing Attendance Using PBIS to improve school- wide attendance

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Amy Beller, LCSW-C School Social Worker Wiley H. Bates Middle School Annapolis, Maryland 410 263-0270 abeller@aacps.org

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Students with poor attendance in Elementary School are more likely to be truant in middle school and high school

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School nonattendance is a problem that affects students, families and the community. Not only are students with poor attendance less likely to do well in school, they are more likely to drop out of school all together, have a lower self- esteem and are less likely to find good jobs in the future. When children are not in school, they are also more likely to get involved in illegal activities in the community.

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PBIS and ATTENDANCE Use data to define attendance problem Use three tier approach (green zone, yellow zone, red zone) to design school wide, group and individual interventions Teach students/parents that attendance is expected Use positive reinforcement for achievement of attendance expectations

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Using DATA to define the problem Types of Data Yearly Data Monthly Data Day of the Week Individual Student # of DAYS PRESENT # of DAYS ENROLLED SASI = ATD09

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Samples

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Is it individual students or a school-wide problem? SASI= ATD09

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DATA INTERVENTION GREEN ZONE 0-4 ABS/year YELLOW ZONE5-10 ABS/year RED ZONE11+ ABS/year

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GREEN ZONE School Wide Attendance Incentive Programs 1. GROUP REWARDS The power of peer pressureThe power of peer pressure Positive reinforcementPositive reinforcement Build upon naturally occurring group affiliation (i.e. Homeroom, Classroom, Team, Grade)Build upon naturally occurring group affiliation (i.e. Homeroom, Classroom, Team, Grade)

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GREEN ZONE School Wide Attendance Incentive Programs EXAMPLES Perfect Attendance = Plenty of Pizza Attendance is Your Ticket to the Movies Harman Elementary Students Make the Bus Chillin at Bates for Breakfast

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Perfect attendance = Plenty of Pizza

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Chillin at Bates

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GREEN ZONE School Wide Attendance Incentive Programs 2. Individual Rewards Rewards those students who are always goodRewards those students who are always good Positive ReinforcementPositive Reinforcement VISIBILITY!VISIBILITY! EXAMPLES: Icecream, Cookies, Bracelets, Certificates, Perfect Attendance Lunch etc.

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GREEN ZONE School Wide Attendance Incentive Programs 3. Other PostcardsPostcards Prevention lettersPrevention letters Attendance MentorsAttendance Mentors Check in ProgramCheck in Program CertificatesCertificates End of the year Perfect Attendance LunchEnd of the year Perfect Attendance Lunch Attendance NewsAttendance News

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Harman Elementary School presents In recognition of Perfect Attendance during the 2005/2006 School Year DateSignature Anne Arundel County Public Schools Ima Here I get on the Bus Award The

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May 25, 2007 CONGRATULATIONS!!! As you well know, your child has had perfect attendance ALL SCHOOL YEAR!!! And thanks to a generous donation from Ginger Cover Continuing Care Retirement Community, we are taking your child out to lunch to celebrate!!!! We will be walking to downtown Annapolis to go to Pussers Landing in the Annapolis Marriott Hotel. We will enjoy a fine lunch sitting on the deck next to the water!!! I cant wait! Please complete the attached permission slip as soon as possible and return to school. Thank you for all you do to support your child in coming to school every day!!!! If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 410 263-0270. Sincerely, Amy Beller School Social Worker Attendance Queen!

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YELLOW ZONE Group Interventions Who will take on this project ??????

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YELLOW ZONE Group Interventions 1. Keep track of number of absences (SASI ATD09) 2. Notify teacher responsible (homeroom) 3. Teacher contact (phone call, meeting with student, letter) 4. 4. Attendance Log -- Documentation (Sample Letters available on Minerva Help Manual -- Appendix)

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YELLOW ZONE Group Interventions 5. Keep track of progress Tracking Log 6. Meet/Speak with parents/students (Case management/Counseling)

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YELLOW ZONE Group Interventions 7. Guidance/Social Worker Letter 8. Administration Letter warning referral for possible legal action (Sample Letters available on Minerva Help Manual -- Appendix)

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InterventionDate# of Abs.Comments Initial Referral Teacher phone call Teacher letter* Referral to Guidance Guidance phone call Guidance letter* Referral to Social Worker SW phone call/homevisit SW letter Administrator Letter Referral to PPW * Please attach copy of letter to LOG

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RED ZONE INDIVIDUAL INTERVENTIONS OTHER REFFERALS DSS (Family Preservation) JIFI Counseling Pediatrician Housing PPW REFFERAL PROJECT ATTEND (Anne Arundel County) States Attorneys Letter Court Appearance (make sure parent brings a lawyer) Possible Consequences: Jail time, fines

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CELEBRATE SUCCESS!

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Monthly Percentage of Students in Attendance Wiley H. Bates Middle School Attendance Statistics

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EVALUATION Interview staff and students 1. Did your reward programs motivate students? 2. Suggestions to improve process (attendance logs, etc.) 3. Suggestions to improve attendance procedures