Many studies of students at all grade levels indicate that students with better attendance are less likely to drop out of school, and more likely to achieve at high levels and graduate from high school on time. In short, students learn more and are more successful if they have good attendance. This makes attendance an important issue in education, and an important school improvement goal.
In 1996-97, schools in the National Network of Partnership Schools were invited to join an exploratory Focus on Results study to learn whether and which family and community involvement activities affect student attendance. Twelve elementary schools returned the longitudinal data needed to address the question. After statistically accounting for the schools’ prior levels of attendance, several family involvement activities significantly increased rates of daily attendance, reduced chronic absenteeism, or both.
Three partnership activities increased daily attendance rates and reduced chronic absenteeism: rewarding students for improved attendance; providing parents with a contact person at the school to call as needed; and communicating effectively with all families about attendance issues. Two-way communications between the school and home seem to help families influence their children’s attendance.
Three other partnership activities were associated with improving daily attendance rates: referring chronically absent students to a counselor; using truant officers with problem students and families; and conducting workshops to help parents understand and take action on attendance issues. School and community resources can be used to improve attendance, along with families’ active support.
Schools that reported conducting home visits decreased the percentage of students who missed over 20 days of school. This strategy may help parents of chronically absent students feel more personal support from school representatives, and parents may be more likely to reinforce the school’s emphasis on student attendance.
In elementary schools, parents greatly influence children’s school attendance. This exploratory study suggests that schools can improve or sustain good attendance by implementing targeted family and community involvement activities.
From: Joyce L. Epstein and Steven B. Sheldon. (2000). Improving student attendance: Effects of family and community involvement. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Sociological Association, Washington, DC.