Stay in the Game! Attendance Network anticipates 2024-25 school year after a successful school year

Elmwood Elementary School was a hive of activity in the days after its April gym class takeover. Conversations among children and teachers resonated through the hallways about the visit, which included contests and non-contact games, hands-on training at football skills stations, and the presence of Browns front office personnel and Chomps.

It was evidence of the diligence with which the kids had improved their attendance as well as their performance on state exams for those selected to go on the visit. Younger pupils were also encouraged to strive for the possibilities provided to demonstrate their improved attendance.

“I’m incredibly excited about our ongoing collaboration and the tremendous progress we’re making in our

attendance, “Gina Wilson, Garfield Heights City Schools’ Coordinator of Family and Civic Engagement, stated. Over the past three years, we have concentrated mostly on processes and procedures, as well as ways to support each facility where we identify deficiencies or needs. We can’t wait to keep working, developing these systems and procedures, and witnessing a rise in attendance, particularly among the communities for whom we have discovered that poor attendance is a persistent problem.”

Continue playing! The Battelle-managed Attendance Network (SITG!) offers school districts a variety of tools, including the campaign Playbook, campaign materials, digital resources, incentives, and player and mascot visits, all with the goal of raising school attendance and lowering absenteeism.

Districts can form a team to handle absenteeism by using the campaign Playbook, a detailed online resource, to create an attendance campaign. Districts track the objectives they set for the district and use localized data from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to guide their campaign approach. The Playbook offers suggestions for engagement opportunities for celebratory events and attendance recognition, as well as communication strategies to increase understanding of the value of attending school. Districts can view the entire scope of their attendance campaign by using the scheduling tool to organize events for the entire year.

Campaign materials are also given to districts that agree to complete the Playbook and have an attendance plan in place in the communities.