CCSD celebrated big gains last month: Initial data shows chronic absenteeism declined by about 9 percentage points last school year after launching its communitywide Every Day Matters initiative.
Why it matters: Attendance plays a key role in learning, because chronically absent students are less likely to succeed academically and more likely to drop out of school.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Brenda Larsen-Mitchell expressed gratitude for the “dedicated efforts of our attendance officers, support professionals, licensed professionals, and administrators who have contributed efforts to keep students engaged in school.”
The backstory: As part of the Every Day Matters initiative, CCSD Education Services Division employees conducted over 38,000-plus home visits to check on students with excessive absences.
Employees also visited over 6,000 homes over the summer to reconnect with families and address needs before the 2024-2025 school year.
CCSD noted a reduction in chronic absenteeism rates across all student groups compared to 2022-2023.
By the numbers: One of the 80-plus schools that saw double-digit percentage point decreases in chronic absenteeism was Ernest A. Becker Sr. Middle School: Based on preliminary data, its rate dropped from approximately 22 percent to about 8 percent.
Principal Philicia King-Spenard said the school strives to understand the “why” behind student absence.
What they’re saying: “Becker Middle School creates a safe space for productive conversations with parents and guardians, which supports families in need,” King-Spenard said.
“We strongly believe if we can connect with families, we can stress the importance of daily attendance.”
Go deeper: Read the following story that explores CCSD’s success, including its partnerships with local governments and nonprofit organizations that contributed to the turnaround.
