Ten Things a School Can Do to Improve Attendance

1. Make students and parents or guardians feel welcome at school and school events.
2. Create an environment that enables students to succeed in academics or activities by acknowledging accomplishments, even small ones.
3. When a student is absent, immediately talk to the student’s parent or guardian.
4. When students are absent, talk to them upon their return about why they were gone.
5. Forge relationships with local businesses where youths may congregate when truant so those business owners encourage students to go back to class.
6. Forge relationships with local law enforcement, juvenile courts, and faith-based or community organizations to share information and suggestions for keeping students in school.
7. Don’t provide the temptation for youths to become truant by keeping campus closed during lunch and breaks.
8. Empower and expect teachers to take action when they think a student may be truant.
9. Reward and recognize good attendance.
10. Make school a place where students feel safe from harm and harassment.

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