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2018 Attendance Awareness Campaign Kit

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In Class, On Time, On Track
#EveryDayMatters

Now through September 30

Join us to help spread the word on the importance of going to school every day.

In Class, On Time, On Track. We all know, it's common sense, if kids aren’t in school, they’re not going to learn and when they come back, they’ll require extra attention from the teacher—thus impacting everyone.

We invite you to participate in our Every Day Matters campaign as part of the national Attendance Awareness Month.  Your role: Send out messages using your various communications channels between now and Sept. 30. To make it easy for you to participate, we’ve put together this multi-media kit. It is designed to give you ready-to-use content that your communications team can send out through your communication channels. To support this effort, New Mexico PBS has designed billboards that you’ll see in the Albuquerque area and they developed videos and PSAs that you may see on television or hear on local radio stations.

In this kit you’ll find:

  • Sample Tweets
  • Sample Facebook
  • Sample newsletter article
  • Sample letter to parents
  • Sample Robo calls
  • Sample marquee text that you can use

How to use this kit:

  • Send out daily messages either on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follow Mission: Graduate and share or retweet Every Day Matters messages.
  • Consider using these messages throughout the school year.
  • Link all messages back to your website.

Additional Resources:

Have a great school year!

- The Mission: Graduate Team
 

Using Twitter…

TIPS:

Include pictures of some of your own students.

If you don’t have time to tweet, follow Mission: Graduate and Attendance Works and retweet! You can add your own message to the retweets.

  • Attendance matters from your very 1st day of school to your very last day http://bit.ly/1MndwWT #EveryDayMatters  #inclassontimeontrack
  • Did you know that missing 2 days of school per month adds up to 10% of the school year? #inclassontimeontrack  #EverydayMatters
  • All of our students  should thrive and learn—this starts with showing up #everydaymatters http://bit.ly/2b95L9S  #inclassontimeontrack
  • Tackle absenteeism early in the school. Use the @MissionGraduate  attendance guide  http://bit.ly/2b1Sb90  #EveryDayMatters
  • You’re in the bank but the teller doesn’t show up. What now? Your job is #Student #EveryDayMatters http://bit.ly/1Ms4HfF
  • #EveryDayMatters Chronic absence starts PreK & weighs down achievement http://bit.ly/XBe7Lk  #glreading
  • How much does low attendance affect kids in early grades? You might be surprised. http://buff.ly/1gm6dmz  #EveryDayMatters
  • DYK that attendance in 9th grade is a strong predictor of high school graduation?  #Attendance Works #EveryDayMatters
  • DYK? Mission: Graduate has attendance resources for schools, healthcare providers, and families? http://bit.ly/1MndwWT #EveryDayMatters
  • Wait! Where’s the photographer? Just like a #Student remember the first step is showing up. #EveryDayMatters http://bit.ly/2bwdIad
  • #EveryDayMatters Let’s help students build a habit of good attendance early & often @ECAPMG #Inclassontimeontrack
  • Get kids out of poverty: get them in school daily. W/ no other changes, will increase HS grad, and college rates.
  • Did you know that attendance in 6th grade impacts a student’s chance of high school graduation. #EveryDayMatters
  • You’re ready for your checkup. What if your doc doesn’t show? http://bit.ly/1Ms4SYr #Students #EveryDayMatters
  • Kids who miss too much school in PreK & K are less likely to be @readingby3rd #EveryDayMatters @ECAPMG
  • One in 10 kindergarten & 1st grade students misses nearly a month of school each year. http://bit.ly/1oqfID7 #EveryDayMatters
  • Students who miss more school score lower on @NAEP_NCES than peers, says @attendanceworks report http://bit.ly/1llMTa8 #EveryDayMatters
  • Some jobs you can’t do alone. http://bit.ly/1Ms5kG3 Don’t let #classmates down.  #EveryDayMatters http://bit.ly/1Ms4HfF #inclassontimeontrack
  • Need resources to help increase attendance, follow #AttendanceWorks on FB & Twitter at  /AttendanceCounts/ #EveryDayMatters
  • #EveryDay Matters How can we help 7K APS homeless kids get to class?  APS Title I Homeless Project http://bit.ly/1LDPmqV
  • 4th graders who missed 3-4 days the month prior to national math and reading tests scored much lower than their peers. #EveryDayMatters
  • Absences Add up. Read how school attendance influences student success.  #EveryDayMatters
  • Has your APS student missed 3 days of school? Intervention may be necessary to help them succeed. http://bit.ly/1Po08Sp #EveryDayMatters
  • Check out this toolkit from @attendanceworks it shows how attendance affects student achievement. http://buff.ly/1fh1RNg  #EveryDayMatters
  • You can’t see a movie if nobody’s in the box office! http://bit.ly/1Ms58qs #Students #EveryDayMatters http://bit.ly/1Ms4HfF #inschoolontimeontrack
  • What can I do to make sure my preschooler is in school every day? Download the families checklist #EverydayMatters
  • 7.5 million students miss 10% of school year nationwide. That’s 135 million days total. http://bit.ly/1oqfID7 #EveryDayMatters
  • Low-income students are 4X more likely than peers to be chronically absent & miss key lessons early on http://bit.ly/1oqfID7 #EveryDayMatters
  • Chronic absence affects all kids, not just the absent ones.
  • How do I to ensure my child is in school, on time, on track? Get the guide@MissionGraduate http://bit.ly/2b1Sb90  #EveryDayMatters
  • Ever search for a sales clerk to check you out? http://bit.ly/1Ms5flN #Students #EveryDayMatters #inschoolontimeontrack

Using Facebook…

TIPS:

Follow Attendance Works  on Facebook for more ideas. There are many there that you can share.

Link posts back to your website, it’s a way to provide more information and get visitors see other information on your site.

  • FACT: Every 26 seconds, a student drops out of school. By 9th grade, missing 20 percent of the school year is a better predictor of dropping out than test scores. #EveryDayMatters
  • FACT: Chronic absence in kindergarten is associated with lower academic performance in 1st grade, especially in reading for Latino students. For poor children, unable to make up for time on task, the poor performance is extended through 5th grade. By 6th grade chronic absence is a clear predictor of drop-out. #EveryDayMatters
  • Common sense and research tell us that for students to learn, they have to be in school. Learn more at Missiongraduatenm.org/attendance. #EveryDayMatters 
  • Chronic absenteeism is missing 10 percent of school days for any reason – excused and unexcused, including in-school suspensions. Based upon research, it marks the point when students start to fall behind academically because they have missed too many school days. Learn more at Attendance Works! #EveryDayMatters
  • FACT: Nationally, as many as 7.5 million students nationwide miss 10 percent of the school year in excused and unexcused absences every year. That’s 135 million days of school. Learn more about reducing chronic absence in your school here! #EveryDayMatters                                                                                                                           
  • Too often chronic absence remains a hidden problem because schools track only average daily attendance and truancy (unexcused absences.) The research shows that chronic absence predicts lower 3rd grade reading proficiency, course failure and eventual dropout. Learn more at the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading! #EveryDayMatters
  • In the words of Magic Johnson, “School is why I made it big time.” In this video Magic urges parents and kids to make it a priority to attend school each day.
  • “School is your best shot at a better life. … Don’t drop the ball. Pick it up, run hard. … Every student, every day!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C24aoX7U-d8&feature=related #EveryDayMatters
  • Chronic absence can affect all of our children, not just those missing school.  If significant numbers of students in a classroom or school are chronically absent, learning for all students can be adversely affected.  The pace of instruction slows down when teachers have to spend time reviewing material for those who missed the lessons in the first place. #EveryDayMatters
  • Chronic absence is a new way of looking at attendance data. Most schools rely on average attendance rates to tell them how many students typically show up each day.  By contrast, chronic absence examines how many students are missing so much school they are at risk.  Even a school with 95 percent average attendance rate could have as many as 20 percent of its students chronically absent. #EveryDayMatters
  • Parents can make a HUGE difference! Parents with middle school and high school children, did you know students should miss no more than 18 days of school to stay on track to graduation? Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other potentially serious difficulty.
  • Check out our tips for parents for help with keeping students on track. http://www.attendanceworks.org/tools/for-parents/
  • FACT: One in 10 kindergarten and first grade students nationwide miss nearly a month of school each year. In some cities, the rate is as high as one in four elementary students.  In some schools, chronic absence affects 50 percent of all of the students!
  • Learn how to help your community reduce chronic absence at Attendance Works.
  • You’re in the bank but the teller doesn’t show up. What now? #EveryDayMatters  http://bit.ly/1Ms4HfF
  • Some jobs you can’t do alone. http://bit.ly/1Ms5kG3 Don’t let #classmates down.  #EveryDayMatters  #inclassontimeontrack

Sample Newsletter Article:

TIPS:

Use this sample as a starting point and add specific school information.

Send a reminder message again during the second semester.

School Success Starts with Showing Up

Data shows us that nationally, 5 million to 7.5 million students miss nearly a month of school in excused and unexcused absences every year.  Starting as early as kindergarten or even preschool, chronic absences predict lower third grade reading scores, and by middle school it’s a warning sign that students will fail key classes and drop out of high school.

Let’s give our students the best chance to achieve success this year by helping our children get to class every day. On class, on time keeps students on track. Good attendance habits carry through in life. One good habit that parents can get into is scheduling appointments before and after school hours.

When missing in school is unavoidable, call the school at ___________________________.

Here are a few resources:

Ask for advice from a nurse at 1-877-725-2552.

Get help with homework. Call the Dial-a-Teacher Statewide at 1-800-94STUDY.

For help finding resources for your family dial 2-1-1.

Sample letter to families…   (from Attendance Works)

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Our goal this year is to ensure that every student attends school regularly.

Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success starting in kindergarten and continuing through high school. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school safely every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and in life.

We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. But, we also know that when students miss too much school— regardless of the reason – it can cause them to fall behind academically.  Your child is less likely to succeed if he or she is chronically absent—which means missing 18 or more days over the course of an entire school year. Research shows:   

  • Children chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade. 
  • By 6th grade, chronic absence is a proven early warning sign for students at risk for dropping out of school. 
  • By 9th grade good attendance can predict graduation rates even better than 8th grade test scores. 


Absences can add up quickly.  A child is chronically absent if he or she misses just two days every month.

Clearly going to school regularly matters!

We don’t want your child to fall behind in school and get discouraged.  Please ensure that your child attends school every day and arrives on time.   Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:

  • Make sure your children keep a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine.
  • Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
  • Ensure your children go to school every day unless they are truly sick
  • Avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session.
  • Talk to teachers and counselors for advice if your children feel anxious about going to school.
  • Develop back up plans for getting to school if something comes up.  Call on a family member, neighbor, or another parent to take your child to school.

Let us know how we can best support you and your children so that they can show up for school on time every day.   We want your child to be successful in school!  If you have any questions or need more information please contact your child’s school.

Sincerely,

Robo calls to Families…

TIP: The three scripts below are intended to go out to all homes as a Back-to- School messages. Revise these messages to meet your specific needs.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Hi. This is Principal __________________________of __________________________ school.

Give your child a better chance at success by making sure they go to school every day. We know kids who miss just two days of school a month have a much harder time catching up on skills like reading and math. Have a great school year. Every day matters.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Hi. This is Principal __________________________of __________________________ school.

Give your child a better chance at success by making sure they’re in school every day. Middle school is tough enough without your child falling behind in class and on their homework due to chronic absences. And attendance matters most for kids who are struggling in any subject. Have a great school year. Every day matters.

HIGH SCHOOL

Hi. This is Principal __________________________of __________________________ school.

Attending school every day improves your child’s chances of graduation, college, and a better life. It’s a hard fact – kids who miss more school get frustrated, fall behind on their credits and ultimately have a higher chance of dropping out. Have a great school year. Every day matters.

ESCUELA PRIMARIA

Hola. Soy el (la) Director(a) __________________de la escuela __________________________.

Ofrezca a su hijo una mejor oportunidad para el éxito asegurándose de que valla a la escuela todos los días. Nosotros sabemos que los niños que faltan tan solo dos días al mes tendrán más dificultades en recuperar sus habilidades académicas como las matemáticas y lectura. Espero que tenga un buen año escolar. Cada día es importante.

ESCUELA SECUNDARIA

Hola. Soy el (la) Director(a) __________________ de la escuela __________________________.

Ofrezca a su hijo una mejor oportunidad para el éxito asegurándose de que valla a la escuela todos los días. La Secundaria es suficientemente difícil como para que un estudiante se retrase en sus clases y tareas por ausencias crónicas. La asistencia es bien importante para los estudiantes que batallan en cualquier clase. Espero que tenga un buen año escolar. Cada día es importante

ESCUELA PREPARATORIA

Hola. Soy el (la) Director(a) __________________ de la escuela __________________________.

Asistir a la escuela todos los días mejora las oportunidades de su hijo de graduarse, de ir a la universidad, y de tener una vida mejor. Es un hecho—los niños que faltan a la escuela se frustran, retrasándose en sus créditos y concluyendo a veces en no terminar la escuela. Espero que tenga un buen año escolar. Cada día es importante.

Marquee Messages…

TIPS:

Use as is or modify them to meet the needs of your students and families.

Rewrite them as questions.

Have a contest and  ask students to submit marquee messages.

Elementary and Middle Schools…

  • Your friends miss you when you’re not in class. #EveryDayMatters
  • We worry about you when you’re not here. #EveryDayMatters
  • Plan to be here every day, we like it when you’re here. #EveryDayMatters
  • Caregivers schedule my appointments after school. – signed, Student #EveryDayMatters
  • I like my new friends, I don’t want to miss school. – signed, Student #EveryDayMatters
  • Being in school gives me the best chance for success #EveryDayMatters
  • Chronic absence = less likely to graduate #EveryDayMatters
  • Together, let’s develop good attendance habits.  #EveryDayMatters
  • Attendance matters from the first day of school until the last. #EveryDayMatters
  • The more often your child is absent, the less likely your child is to graduate. #EveryDayMatters

 

High Schools…

  • In School, On Time, On Track #EveryDay Matters
  • When I ditch it affects everyone around me. #EveryDayMatters
  • When I don’t show up, I give up without even trying.
  • My job is going to school. #EveryDayMatters
  • Being in school gives me the best chance for success. #EveryDayMatters
  • Meet me in class! #EveryDayMatters
  • Success starts with one thing – showing  up. #EveryDayMatters
  • Each step into class is a step toward graduation. #EveryDayMatters
  • Each time I miss class, I get behind #NotThisYear
  • To reduce the dropout rate, reduce absenteeism. #EveryDayMatters

Did you Know Messages…  

TIPS:

Create posters using the facts below.

Use them in social media.

Create quizzes.

Use as icebreaker questions at parent meetings.

For Elementary and Middle Schools

  • Did you know that missing more than one day a month can knock your child off track?
  • Did you know that if your child misses 18 days or more a year they are chronically absent?
  • Did you know that missing 2 days a month is missing 10% of the school year?
  • Did you know that like missing work, missing school can set your child behind?
  • Did you know that Truancy is missing 10 days without an acceptable excuse?
  • Did you know that Truancy is against the law?
  • Did you know that missing 10% of the year makes it harder to develop reading skills?
  • Did you know that being chronically absent in 6th grade makes your child less likely to graduate?
  • Did you know that 1 in 10 kids in K-1st grade are chronically absent? Don’t let that be your kid.
  • Did you know that the more days you miss, the better the chances that your child becomes a dropout?
  • Did you know that as early as Kindergarten, chronic absence impacts academic achievement?
  • Did you know that by 3rd grade, kids with poor attendance are less likely to read at grade level?
  • Did you know that absenteeism in the 1st month can predict attendance habits for the whole year?

For High Schools

  • In School, On Time, On Track #EveryDay Matters
  • When I ditch it affects everyone around me. #EveryDayMatters
  • When I don’t show up, I give up without even trying.
  • My job is going to school. #EveryDayMatters
  • Being in school gives me the best chance for success. #EveryDayMatters
  • Meet me in class! #EveryDayMatters
  • Success starts with one thing – showing  up. #EveryDayMatters
  • Each step into class is a step toward graduation. #EveryDayMatters
  • Each time I miss class, I get behind #NotThisYear
  • To reduce the dropout rate, reduce absenteeism. #EveryDayMatters