Officials are looking to combat “chronic absenteeism,” which is when a student is absent for more than 10 percent of the total possible days of attendance.
The Evesham Township School District is working to promote good attendance among all students at all schools.
Specifically, district officials are looking to combat “chronic absenteeism,” which is defined by the state as when a student is absent for more than 10 percent of the total possible days of attendance for that individual student in a school year.
According to the district, those figures translate to about 18 missed days of school a year, or two days every month.
For the most recently released figures for the 2016–2017 school year that reviewed chronic absenteeism at each school in the district, seven of the district’s eight schools met the state average targets for chronic absenteeism for the school-wide population.
State average targets for chronic absenteeism for a school-wide population are set at 8.4 percent or less of students at an elementary school and 8.7 percent or less of students at a middle school.
Broken down by individual schools, Beeler Elementary had 3.2 percent of students experiencing chronic absenteeism, DeMasi Elementary had 4.8 percent, Jaggard had 3.7 percent, Marlton Elementary School had 3.9 percent, Rice had 5.3 percent, Van Zant had 6.5 percent and DeMasi Middle School had 8.5 percent.
Marlton Middle School was the only school that did not meet the state’s average targets for chronic absenteeism for the school-wide population, with 8.8 percent, which is just slightly more than the state target of 8.7 percent.
To assist parents in promoting student learning, the district has released the following list of tips to parents to help their children practice good attendance:
• Make sure a child keeps a regular bedtime and establish a morning routine so they are rested and alert when they get to school.
• Turn off all of a child’s electronics at bedtime, including televisions, phones and tablets.
• Pack a child’s backpack and make sure a child’s clothes are ready the night before.
• Check with a child’s school nurse if there are questions about whether or not to keep a child at home due to illness.
• If possible, avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session for a child.
• Talk to a child’s teacher and school counselor for advice if a child feels anxious about going to school.
• Develop backup plans for getting a child to school in the morning if there are unforeseen circumstances and a child’s ride to school/bus is missed. Have a trusted family member, neighbor or another parent who can be called upon to take a child to school if needed.
As the district monitors and records absences (and excessive tardiness), district officials say a child’s school will communicate to parents when absences for a student begin to accumulate to the point of concern.
District officials say schools will also work with families in those situations to develop strategies for improving attendance.
For more information on the district’s absenteeism, policy, see the district’s Student Code of Conduct or Board Policy and Regulation 5200 for more details.
• If possible, avoid scheduling vacations or doctor’s appointments when school is in session for a child.
• Talk to a child’s teacher and school counselor for advice if a child feels anxious about going to school.
• Develop backup plans for getting a child to school in the morning if there are unforeseen circumstances and a child’s ride to school/bus is missed. Have a trusted family member, neighbor or another parent who can be called upon to take a child to school if needed.
As the district monitors and records absences (and excessive tardiness), district officials say a child’s school will communicate to parents when absences for a student begin to accumulate to the point of concern.
District officials say schools will also work with families in those situations to develop strategies for improving attendance.
For more information on the district’s absenteeism, policy, see the district’s Student Code of Conduct or Board Policy and Regulation 5200 for more details.
