INTERVENTIONS FOR ALL LEVELS

Multi-faceted attendance interventions are crucial in addressing the diverse needs of students and schools, as a singular approach often fails to account for varying circumstances and challenges. Each student's experience with attendance can be influenced by a range of factors, including socio-economic status, mental health, and family dynamics. Implementing a comprehensive strategy that encompasses academic support, family engagement, and community resources can lead to more effective outcomes. By recognizing that attendance interventions must be tailored to individual student needs, school districts can foster a more inclusive environment that promotes engagement and connectedness, ultimately leading to improved attendance rates and student success.

The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction contains detailed and robust information about attendance, truancy, and best practices.

Peer mentoring programs enhance school engagement and attendance by fostering connections among students. These programs create a supportive environment for sharing experiences and overcoming academic and social challenges. Positive relationships through peer mentoring help students feel connected to their school community, increasing motivation and commitment to attend regularly.

Cross-age peer mentoring programs are an increasingly popular choice for educators and youth development professionals hoping to create positive outcomes for youth. These programs, in which older youth befriend and mentor younger children in a structured environment, are growing in popularity for a number of reasons:

1. They can produce a number of positive outcomes for both sets of participants.

2. Fewer resources are needed for recruiting mentors.

3. They capitalize on the importance of peer relationships for adolescents.

4. They can help with transition points in participants’ lives.

5. They can be more appealing to parents of mentees, who may feel uncomfortable with an unknown adult becoming involved with their child.

The START project, developed by Grand Valley State University, provides a playbook and curriculum for an Elementary Peer to Peer Program, and a playbook and curriculum for a Secondary Peer to Peer Program.

The Student Attendance Success Plan, provided by Attendance Works, is designed to help parents track their children’s attendance and work with teachers to set appropriate goals. Each Student Attendance Success Plan includes a calendar for the current school year, and a Help Bank to encourage families to think about their back up plans for getting to school even when challenges come up. Educators should consider distributing this plan to families.

Click on the link above for Success Plans for all levels in multiple languages.

The Attendance Playbook, developed from a collaboration between Georgetown University FutureEd and Attendance Works, offers a variety of Tier I, II, and III interventions. While the playbook was developed in response to COVID, the interventions remain appropriate and applicable to students who currently struggle with attending school.

Some of the interventions include:

Tier I: home visits, incentives, and Telehealth services

Tier II: early warning systems, mentors, and targeted transportation

Tier III: a holistic approach in truancy court and interagency case management,

Each intervention strategy in the playbook has a research and resources section.