OUR MISSION

Attendance Improvement Program

Alicia Garoupa, LCSW, Pupil Services & Attendance Coordinator (213) 241-2620 * For more information about the Attendance Improvement Program, visit our page on the Pupil Services website.

Pupil Services

Attendance Improvement Program

The Attendance Improvement Program will support schools in achieving attendance improvement targets in kindergarten and ninth

grade. Increasing student attendance is a top priority and a critical factor to improve academic achievement. We are committed to

engaging parents, students, school staff, and community members toward a common vision of graduation for all students.

December 2013

Attendance Improvement Program Stats Data through October 2013

Source: MyData

Looking Ahead...

To maintain 96% or higher attendance, students can miss

no more than 1 day for every 25 days of instruction.

Here is a breakdown of absences by attendance band for the first 75 days of school.*

*Note: For students enrolled since the first day of school.

Go to MyData and click on the At-Risk Attendance Report tab to see attendance achievement by band at your school.

FBB

(<87%)

BB (87-91%)

Basic (92-95%)

Profi-

cient (96-

99%)

Advanced (100%) 75th Day of

School

Dec. 6, 2013 9 or more 7-9 4-6 1-3 0

Tracking Proficient/Advanced Attendance

ESC

Meeting or

Exceeding 5% Goal

Meeting or Exceeding

Superintendent’s 76% PM Goal

North 10/10 1/10

East 13/13 4/13

West 24/24 2/24

South 18/19 3/19

ISIC 13/13 0/13

TOTAL 78/79 10/79

Collaboration is Key

Our work as Attendance Improvement Counselors/Pupil Services and Attendance Counselors is strengthened by the close collaborative efforts we engage in daily. We enhance attendance improvement strategies with the close working relationships we have with all stake-holders, such as students, families, staff, and communities. It is through these collaborations that we build and support healthy and productive students. We must continue to all work and learn from each other to create success within our school communities.

“By coming together in the context of a school-community collaborative, stakeholders can weave together a critical mass of resources and strategies to

enhance safe and caring schools and communities that support youth and their

families and enable success at school and beyond.” (Adelman & Taylor, 2006)

Adelman, H. and Taylor, L (2006). School and Community Collaboration to Promote a Safe Learning

Environment .The Journal of the National Association of State Boards of Education.

Proficient/Advanced Rates by ESC thru October 2013 AIP Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten

We return from the winter break on Monday, January 13th. January’s monthly theme is

“Reflections and Goals for the New Year.” Let’s help our students and families start the

year with a renewed sense of purpose and commitment to attending school every day!

Check out the motivational tools AICs have created and click here.

Proficient/Advanced Rates Comparison thru October 2012-13 vs. 2013-14- AIP Grade 9

Best Practices in Utilizing Resources and CollaborationBest Practices in Utilizing Resources and CollaborationBest Practices in Utilizing Resources and Collaboration

A Spotlight on AICs In ActionA Spotlight on AICs In ActionA Spotlight on AICs In Action Community Collaboration at Dorsey HS

In the month of October, Ms. Cecilia Palencia at 68th Street Elementary School worked together with local community organizations, such as Baby2Baby and UCLA Dental Education Outreach program, to celebrate student attendance successes and educate stakeholders on the importance of attendance. On the 50th day of school, all Kindergarten students celebrated the 50th day of school with “50th Day

Sock Hop.” Prior to the Sock Hop, Ms. Palencia worked with teachers to instruct Kindergarten students on various dance routines, like the hand jive and chicken dance. During the Sock Hop students came dressed up in 50’s clothing, danced their routines with the other Kindergarten classes and performed for staff and parents. Students, parents and staff were reminded of the importance of attendance during the celebration. As an extra incentive, all students who were in attendance that day were given free brand new Old Navy socks from Baby2Baby.

The following week, Ms. Palencia collaborated with the UCLA Dental Edu-cation Outreach program to bring dental health awareness to the class-rooms. Students were treated to a fun presentation from UCLA Dental stu-dent volunteers about oral hygiene and the importance of education and school attendance. Students were also given free toothbrushes. Collabora-tion is such a great way to celebrate attendance and utilize some wonderful free community resources.

Great work Ms. Palencia and 68th Street Elementary School!

68th Street ES Educates through Collaboration

On Friday November 1st, Attendance Improvement Counselor Karen

Alvarado acknowledged the teachers at Nevada Avenue Elementary

School with a variety of baked goods. Ms. Alvarado COLLABORATED

with a local bakery called Crème Caramel LA, who donated over two

dozen desserts ranging from bread pudding, jalapeno bread, banana

bread and other sweet, savory and even vegan flavors. This community

collaboration made it possible to thank the teachers for their support of

the various attendance improvement strategies she has in place. She

also spent some time sharing with the teachers the upcoming “high

absence days” based on previous years data for that school. This

collaboration with community, school staff and students is a winning

combination.

Thank you for all that you do Ms. Alvarado!

Nevada Elementary’s Sweet Partnership

On Saturday, November 2, a full bus of 9th grade students from Los Angeles High School had the opportunity to attend a UCLA Football Game at the Rose Bowl, as a reward for maintaining Proficient/Advanced attendance. 50 students received free admission, lunch and snacks, as a result of donations and community partnerships arranged by Attendance Improvement Counselor (AIC) Nicole Nigosian and Attendance I mprovement Program (AIP) Lead Counselor Melinda Duran. Nicole Nigosian reached out to UCLA's "I'm Going to College" Community Relations program for the UCLA football tickets, to the City Councilmember Herb Wesson's office for the bus, and to "arc," Los Angeles High School's after school program for the Subway lunch. Melinda Duran reached out to Nathan Scheinfeld, CEO of "Thinking About Tomorrow" a non-profit organization for additional snacks and bottles of water. Pictured here at the Rose Bowl are AIC Nicole Nigosian, and Lead Counselors Melinda Duran and Martha Godinez, who accompanied the students on the trip. Through their partnerships with community organiza-tions, Attendance Improvement Program counselors are continually looking for creative and exciting ways to reward students, to moti-vate them to stay on track, and to provide them with new opportuni-ties.

Go Bruins!

Eric Burns, Attendance Improvement Counselor at Dorsey High School continuously brings the community together to support student attendance. To join his absence prevention efforts in October and November, Mr. Burns reached out to two community organizations, Chipotle and Jarritos. In order to motivate Grade 9 students to reach the district goal of Proficient/Advanced attendance, Mr. Burns challenged students to be in school on the 50th instructional day (October 24th) and promised them a free meal on November 1st (the Friday after Halloween). Knowing that the day after Halloween is historically known for a high rate of student absenteeism, Mr. Burns strategically and creatively motivated students to come to school on both October 24th and November 1st. The Friday after Halloween at Dorsey High School was eventful, with 5% fewer absences in Grade 9 this year (4.6% absent), as compared to last school year on November 1st (9.6% absent). The generous donations from Chipotle and Jarritos fed over 300 Grade 9 students! And due to the rapport Mr. Burns has with his students, they waited patiently and eagerly to receive their burrito, chips, and drink. With gratitude being a theme for the month of November, Mr. Burns taught the lesson of appreciation to students as he had them sign a thank you card, which they did without hesitation.

What a great success!

Thank you to Eric Burns for his commitment to the students of LAUSD and for creating a bridge to our greater community! And thank you to Chipotle and

Jarritos for supporting our students!

LA High School Celebrates at UCLA