Schools step up attendance campaigns to reduce absenteeism

Eastern Iowa school district attendance rates exceed federal standards, but local administrators expect even more from their students.

“The No. 1 thing we tell students is this is their job right now,” said Lonnie Behnke, assistant principal at South East Junior High School in Iowa City.

Research shows that students are more likely to succeed in academics when they attend school consistently. A 2008 study by the Rodel Community Scholars at Arizona State University tracked students from kindergarten through high school and found that dropout patterns were linked with poor attendance, beginning in kindergarten.

Chronic absence in kindergarten - defined as missing 10 percent of school days - is associated with lower academic performance in first grade. This can lead to increased academic challenges as a child progresses through school.

“Every day a student isn't in school, they are missing crucial information,” said Behnke, who serves as a point person for the Iowa City district's attendance task force.

The task force is a joint effort of the school district, the Johnson County Attorney's Office and the 6th Judicial District Court Office. The task force reviews school attendance situations referred to them by the district and mediates solutions.

Working with students, parents and/or guardians, the task force develops an agreement regarding a student's attendance, as required by law. If this plan is not successful - an agreement could not be reached or the family fails to abide by the terms - criminal prosecution or “child in need of assistance” proceedings by the county attorney's office will begin.

The goal, however, is to intervene before a referral is even made to the task force - which is why the Iowa City district has increased attendance communication with students and parents.

Forms that explain the district's attendance requirements are shared several times throughout the school year. Behnke even filmed a video explaining the district's attendance policies in English and Spanish.

The federal No Child Left Behind Act demands an average daily attendance rate of 85 percent for elementary and middle schools. None of the state's school districts fell below that, according to 2010-11 attendance rates from the Iowa Department of Education.

In fact, all districts reported K-8 attendance rates above 90 percent, but school administrators continue to emphasize the importance of regular attendance.

“Everybody, Every Day!” is the Cedar Rapids school district's campaign that promotes regular attendance.

“We're trying to touch base with kids, with their families, before it becomes an issue,” said Aaron Green, the district's director of student equity.

The program, which launched this year, focuses on better communication of attendance policies with students and parents. At the same time, schools streamlined attendance tracking and established attendance procedures and follow-up with families.

“Schools were using different codes to mark a student's absence,” said Paul Hayes, the district's secondary student services facilitator. “This was a chance to get everyone on the same page.”

Eventually, the district will use this information to analyze which grades or schools have attendance issues. Cedar Rapids' attendance rate typically hovers around 95 percent, so Green doesn't expect a dramatic increase right away.

“Over time, we'll see a difference,” Green said.

Already, though, administrators report some changes.

“As a parent, you kind of know if you're kid is sick five days in a row that someone from the school is going to call you,” said Candace Lynch, Cedar Rapids' elementary student services facilitator, “but when you have a day here, a day there, sometimes parents aren't aware of how quickly it adds up.”

Under Iowa code, a student who has eight or more unexcused absences in any one quarter, or 45-day period, is considered truant. School officials are required to make referrals to county attorneys. They also can impose discipline locally for excessive absences that don't rise to the level of truancy.

The law states students should not be subject to sanctions if lack of attendance is beyond the control of the student. Absences that should be excused include illness, school-sponsored trips, court appearances or unavoidable occurrences.

The law states it is reasonable for schools to require a doctor's verification of illness but not in every case, “since to do so may work a hardship on families with limited or no insurance or families with working parents.”

Ultimately, it is up to the school district to define by policy what are excused and unexcused absences. The determination is made by the school, not by the parent.

“The biggest issue we have are long-term absences,” Behnke said. “We have students who stay home to help their parents, maybe by baby-sitting younger siblings, or undiagnosed medical problems.”

Family vacations during the school year are another hurdle. Schools don't have the authority to tell a family no if they plan a trip while school is in session. They don't have to excuse the absence, however.

“Hopefully, (‘Everybody, Every Day!') will bring that kind of thing to a family's mind,” Hayes said. “Families need to realize that just because they have a reason for being gone, it doesn't make it an excused absence.”