Lightfoot-Smith, Curlandra

Ray, Takeysha

In this presentation, participants will focus on the importance of a holistic approach addressing chronic absenteeism in schools. Participants are provided with tools to take to their district and community helping bring awareness to regular, punctual school attendance. We will provide exciting, hands-on, interactive experiences on initiatives and creative strategies addressing truancy

Georgia Southern University: Digital Commons@Georgia Southern

Georgia Southern UniversityDigital Commons@Georgia SouthernNational Youth-At-Risk Conference SavannahMar 2nd, 3:00 PM - 4:15 PMCount Yourself In:Encouraging Students to Takethe 180-Day ChallengeTakeysha RayBibb County School District, takeysha.ray@bcsdk12.netCurlandra Lightfoot-SmithBibb County School District, curlandra.smith@bcsdk12.netFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannahThis Presentation (Open Access) is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. It has been accepted for inclusionin National Youth-At-Risk Conference Savannah by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons@Georgia Southern. For more information,please contact dskinner@georgiasouthern.edu.Takeysha Ray and Curlandra Lightfoot-Smith, "Count Yourself In:Encouraging Students to Take the 180-Day Challenge" (March 2,2015). National Youth-At-Risk Conference Savannah. Paper 123.http://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar_savannah/2015/2015/123An Attendance Initiative through Bibb County Public Schools   Office of Student Affairs THE 180 DAY CHALLENGE: ATTEND SCHOOL, EVERY DAY! ALL DAY!  ON TIME!   According to the Georgia Department of Education Attendance Report for 2010-2011 school year, 34% of the student population in Bibb County had been absent from 6-15 days.  11.7% of students had been absent 15 or more days from school.   Data shows in Bibb County School District, there are more high school students who missed 15 or more days from school  in 2013-2014 than there are May 2014 high school graduates.     A District Wide Attendance Campaign; “Count Yourself In”, was implemented which served as a concerted effort to help decrease truancy in the Bibb County School District through: Education, Motivation, Communication and Collaboration! Education: Utilize a curriculum that integrates attendance focused activities with the appropriate grade level Common Core Georgia Performance Standards.  Motivation: Motivate students through incentive programs such as: “Friendly competitions”, family and parent involvement, etc. Communication: Communicate attendance policies and procedures with parents through parent nights and school functions, calling tree announcements and other correspondence, through social media by launching Attendance Awareness month, “Count Yourself In”, Facebook page and Twitter Account, posting school attendance posters, flyers/ fact sheets in community agencies, through an official City Proclamation during Attendance Awareness Month. Collaboration: Collaborate with community partners to help spread the word of the importance of school at-tendance, local businesses to provide incentives for students and families and local medical/health provid-ers to include in well check exams information about the importance of school attendance child develop-ment. Results: 51% of BCSD saw a decrease in school absences during the implementation month of September 2014. 

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Count Yourself In:Encouraging Students to Take the 180-Day Challenge

Count Yourself In: Encouraging Students to Take the 180-Day Challenge

https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?filename=0&article=1046&context=nyar_savannah&type=additional

Count Yourself In: Encouraging Students to Take the 180-Day Challenge

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Georgia Southern University: Digital Commons@Georgia Southern

Georgia Southern University: Digital Commons@Georgia Southern