The following year brought even more concerning trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the second quarter of the 2022\u201323 school year<\/strong>, 23.5% of students<\/strong>\u2014over 21,000 children<\/strong>\u2014were chronically absent, a 4.1% increase<\/strong> from the year before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Additionally, an earlier report revealed that 29% of county students<\/strong> missed five or more days in that same quarter. The PWCS School Board<\/strong> recognized the urgent need for a solution, understanding that chronic absenteeism not only undermines academic performance but also disrupts students’ sense of belonging and social-emotional growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe know that there is a correlation between absenteeism and classroom performance. Stated simply, better attendance is associated with higher grades,\u201d said Dr. Michael Neall, PWCS Director of Research, Accountability, and Strategic Planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Neall also emphasized the importance of fostering connections:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faced with these challenges, PWCS leaders sought innovative solutions to improve attendance rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To combat the rising absenteeism rates, PWCS launched \u201cAttention to Attendance,\u201d<\/strong> a comprehensive program powered by the SchoolStatus Attend<\/strong> platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This initiative employs a data-driven communication strategy<\/strong><\/a> designed to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The \u201cAttention to Attendance\u201d program<\/strong> is already delivering positive results. By the third quarter of 2022\u201323<\/strong>, chronic absenteeism rates had leveled off, with 18.7% of students<\/strong> categorized as chronically absent<\/a>\u2014a slight but promising improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PWCS\u2019s success highlights the critical role of proactive, data-driven communication<\/strong> in tackling absenteeism<\/a>. With the support of SchoolStatus Attend<\/strong>, the district has been able to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PWCS\u2019s \u201cAttention to Attendance\u201d program<\/strong> demonstrates how a combination of strategic outreach and robust communication tools can positively impact chronic absenteeism. By prioritizing attendance and leveraging the power of SchoolStatus<\/strong>, PWCS has taken critical steps toward building stronger school-family connections and ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Discover how your district can use SchoolStatus Attend<\/strong><\/a> to improve attendance and create stronger school-family partnerships. Schedule a demo today!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"