Safe and Welcoming Schools

Foundational Supports that Promote Positive Conditions for Learning

Before addressing Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism directly, schools should actively strive to ensure that the environment is consistently safe and welcoming for all students.

Check the following areas to determine if there are foundational supports that need to be addressed:

• Tu Voz survey results
• LEAP Indicators regarding Learning Environment (LE1 - 4)
• E2 Walkthrough Tool (2B, 2D, 3A, 4A, 4B)

Consider:

• Asking all staff to create and sustain a morning routine for greeting students as they arrive
• Integrating TSEL activities throughout the day
• Ensuring that all students have a way to request support that is responded to in a timely manner

Attendance Universal Tier 1 Resources

One of the most powerful Tier 1 tools is communication to all students and families about the importance of attendance. It is important to ensure that each student and family knows how many days each student has missed of school and whether or not the student is considered chronically absent.

Setting Up Chronic Absenteeism Communication with All Families 

• How to Export Data to use with ThrillShare Messages around Chronic Absenteeism Status for ALL Families
• It is recommended that schools communicate with the guardians of ALL students monthly to let them know how many days of school their student has missed, and whether or not the student is considered chronically absent
  • Communicating the number of days (or equivalency, as missing minutes can add up to days) is important as research tells us most guardians underestimate the number of days their student has missed
  • Ensuring that the communication remains focused on problem solving and offering support, rather than any negative impact of missing school
  • Ensuring that the communication explains what chronically absent means, and that, for many students, this status can still change during the school year

DPS Resources on Why Attendance Matters

• Why Attendance Matters in Denver Public Schools (English and Spanish; includes family-friendly "How Sick is Too Sick?")
  • *Amharic. *Arabic. *Chinese. *French. *Nepali. *Somali. *Vietnamese.
    
    
• DPS Showing Up Matters Attendance Campaign (English)
  • Translated versions
    
    
• DPS Attendance Matters Videos (English)
  • Translated versions
    
    
• Getting Your Child to School on Times Matters! guide
  • Use the content of this guide in school communications. This guide should not be distributed as is.

• Attendance Matters Interactive Slide Deck for families
  • Make a copy of this slide deck to use with families. NOTE that this is an interactive slide deck with frequent animation in order to prompt discussion.

 Flyers

• How Sick is Too Sick? flyer (from CDPHE)
  
  
• Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow flyer
  
  
• For preschool and Kindergarten
  • Get Ready for Biggest Adventure flyer (available in other languages)
  • Build the Habit of Good Attendance flyer (available in other languages)
    
    
• For elementary school
  • Build the Habit of Good Attendance Early flyer (available in other languages)
    
    
• For middle and high school
  • Keep Your Child On Track in Middle and High School flyer (available in other languages)
    
    
• Family Resources on using Parent Portal to report absences flyer
  
  

Videos

• EDUCA DPS Podcast: School Attendance - Why It Matters video
  
  
• EDUCA Asistencia video
  
  
• FACE University Presents..Attendance: Every Day Matters! Tips, Tools, and the Facts video
  • slide deck

In-School Awareness and Celebration Ideas

• September Attendance Awareness Month Campaign Resources (from Attendance Works)
  
  
• Attendance Wall at Legacy Options High School
  • 
    
    
• Celebration Ideas
  • Incentives should be designed in a way that incentivize the students at each school. Incentives and celebrations will differ depending on age and developmental level. 
  • Monthly events for improved attendance and attendance higher than school target
    • Lunch with a Leader
    • Homework Pass
    • First in Lunch Line
      
      
• Certificate Templates