New Year. New Goals. As schools around the nation celebrate Attendance Awareness Month in September, the Springfield City School District is reenergizing its expectation for students and staff to be present at work, at school and at play.
The District is diligently aiming for a 93% attendance rate for both students and staff this year. ‘Attendance scoreboards’ are at several buildings and set the tone for the collective mission.
According to the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce (DEW), chronically absent students in Ohio are 65% less likely to meet the Third Grade Reading Guarantee and 89% less likely to graduate high school on time. Additionally, if a student misses two days of school per month, they will miss the equivalent of one year of class instruction by their high school graduation. That figure is doubled if the child were to miss four days of school per month.
Specifically, the District has taken the following measures to share this important message with its families:
Billboard campaigns, building signage & social media messaging
Increased phone communication between building leaders, secretaries and families
Streamlined attendance collection and student absence review through improved data platforms
Created individualized success plans for families who may be struggling with attendance
Participation in the Stay in the Game Attendance Network through the DEW
“The secret to success isn’t a secret: It starts with showing up,” said SCSD Superintendent Dr. Bob Hill. “Every day in class builds momentum towards a productive future. Families can support this effort by keeping school info up to date, working with teachers, planning appointments after hours and ensuring kids get enough sleep.”