2.4 million


2.4 MillionStudent Absences in

Central Texas per Year

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data at UT Education Research Center; 2010-2011 school year.


Central Texas Has More Absences Than Texas on Average at Every Grade

KG 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 120

2

4

6

8

10

12

14 Average Number of Absences, By Grade, 2010-11

Central Texas TexasGrade

Ave

rage

Day

s A

bsen

t

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data at the UT Austin Education Research Center

+3 days


5 or Fewer

Missed Days

6 or More

Missed Days

85% of Absences

15%

Percentage of Students Percentage of Absences

½ Central Texas Students Miss 6+ Days/Year

& Account for 85% of all Absences

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of PEIMS data from 2009-10 at UT Education Research Center


History– Following state funding cuts in 2011, E3 Alliance asked

superintendents, “How can our community help?”

– The resounding answer: a regional attendance campaign

– So we launched Missing School Matters

– E3 Alliance calculated a 2% increase in attendance per year would generate $34 million annually for schools

Because schools are reimbursed by the State for daily attendance

6


History & Facts– In Spring 2012, we launched a regional outreach

campaign, primarily through large employers

– In Fall 2012, a national in-school attendance challenge called “Get Schooled” was initiated in our schools

– 5 Central Texas schools were in the top 25 nationwide!

Stony Point HS, Leander HS, Covington MS, Garcia MS, Simon MS

– Now, the MSM Task Force is expanding the attendance initiative with a general awareness campaign

7


Our Goal:Increase student attendance by 2 percentage

points (average 3 days/student)

34MILLION

$MORESTUDENTSACHIEVE


Our Message to Parents and Families


MISS SCHOOL.MISS OUT.

When your son or daughter misses a day at school, they’re missing out on a lot more than classes or homework.

They’re missing opportunities. Opportunities to learn. To gain confidence. To be inspired. To be a friend.

To experience a moment that may have a positive impact.


But that’s not all. They’ll also start to miss out on things like teachers, electives, sports

programs and arts education. Because every year, school absences cost Central Texas $34 million in lost revenue.

That $34 million translates into 600 teachers or equipping 17,000 Central Texas science classrooms

with lab equipment and supplies.


What Can YOU Do? Keep your own child in school unless they are contagious Request a speaker from us for your next meeting –

Take this message to your PTA, your HOA, your clubs. Let more people know that Missing School Matters!

Put an article in your company newsletter Download a poster, and put it up at your business Post it on Facebook or Tweet our message Share the Attendance Parent Guide with friends Be a part of the solution!

14


www.missingschoolmatters.org

Facebook.com/missingschoolmatters

Twitter.com/missingmatters

www.e3alliance.org

www.getschooled.com

Resources


Thank You!

www.e3alliance.org

The conclusions of this research do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official position of the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, or the State of Texas.


Missing School MattersTask Force


Missing School Matters Taskforce• Galvanize education champions to execute a focused

awareness campaign– Outreach to parents, community groups– Spread the word that ‘Missing School Matters’ via strategic,

measurable activities


Task Force Accomplishments + Future Focus

• Outreach is growing– Round Rock ISD PTA Council– YMCA– Community Health Clinics/Doctors– Austin Police Dept.– Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Club– And more…

• Spreading the word– Social media channels– E-newsletters– In-person meetings and presentations

• Still have work to do – We need you!– Spread the word


Our Studies Show Where to Concentrate Efforts

• 7th-10th graders (transition to High School)

• For low income students, absences not due to illness

• Students with absences due to chronic illness

• Students with absences due to skipping

Conclusions based on E3 Alliance analysis of absence reason data from 9 schools in PISD & HCISD, 1/14/13-3/8/13


Why are students absent and what can we do about it?


Absence Reasons Study Which students miss school, where and why? First of its kind study in the state (maybe US?) Funded by St. David’s Foundation, Central Health Data to drive regional decision-making

How health and community systems interact with student attendance and achievement

Collected absence reasons for 2 months in Hays, Pflugerville

Designed to be representative of regional population


Top 10 Reasons for Absence: 72% of Absences

Family ResponsibilitySuspension (not ISS)

Mental Health IssueTravel

Preventative MedicalRoutine Dental Appt

Family EmergencyChronic Illness Comb.

SkippingAcute Illness

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50%

1%1%2%2%2%3%

4%4%5%

48%

% of Absences by Absence Reason

(751)

(707)

(654)

(465)

(352)

(326)

(254)

(247)

(173)

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of absence data from 9 schools in PISD & HCISD, 1/14/13-3/8/13

(8124)


Medical Absences More Variable Than Non-Medical Absences Over Time

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17-Ja

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20-Ja

n

23-Ja

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26-Ja

n

29-Ja

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eb

10-F

eb

13-F

eb

16-F

eb

19-F

eb

22-F

eb

25-F

eb

28-F

eb3-M

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200400600800

100012001400160018002000

Medical Non-medicalStudy Week

Num

ber o

f Stu

dent

Abs

ence

s

Source: E3 Alliance analysis of Absence data from 9 schools in PISD & HCISD, 1/14/13-3/8/13


Low Income Students Have More than Their Share of

Non-Medical Absences

Court/LegalSkipping

Transportation IssueFamily ResponsibilityStudent's Child Sick

Dental TreatmentMental Health

AsthmaChronic Illness

Acute IllnessAll Absences

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

% of Absences by Reason for Low Income Students

Percent of Absences from Low Income StudentsSource: E3 Alliance analysis of Absence data from 9 schools in PISD & HCISD, 1/14/13-3/8/13

% of Students whoare Low Income


Overall Conclusions Absence reasons to concentrate community services

– Chronic illness– Skipping– Non-illness absences for low income students– 7th-10th grade

• Nearly half of absences due to acute illness• Amount of health related absences vary over time• Amount of non-health related absences relatively

consistent over time• Geographical location of hotspots vary widely by absence

reason

2.4 million

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