When a school faces chronic absenteeism, it may be tempting to incentivize students to attend school by giving out awards for perfect attendance. However, research shows that this approach is not effective. Here are a few reasons why incentives don’t work, as well as alternatives to this approach.
- Students come to school sick. Attendance incentives encourage children to come to school while they have sicknesses that may be contagious. Not only does this pose a public health issue – especially for students who may have weakened immune systems – it also leads to the spread of illnesses that could result in more absences among classmates.
- Instead of issuing attendance awards, provide a clear policy on when children should come to school and when they should stay home. Post pandemic, many families may be confused about which health precautions have been lifted and which have remained. Partner with local hospitals to develop and communicate clear guidelines as to when students should stay home and when they should come to school to encourage attendance when students are healthy.
- Create systems for students to make up work at home. When students are genuinely ill, they need to stay home and rest. But they also should have the opportunity to continue their learning when they feel well enough to do so. Establish clear systems for families to collect missing work and / or to catch up independently when they can so that the overall class is not disrupted and individual students don’t fall behind.
- Ignores issues at home. Often, students do not attend school because of issues like housing instability, taking responsibility for younger siblings, providing translation for parents, employment, and chronic illnesses. Not only do attendance incentives punish students for factors that are beyond their control, they also keep students from getting the services they and their families need to actually attend school.
- Instead of issuing attendance awards, increase communication with families with absent children. Collect data about absences and schedule calls home or home visits with families with irregular attendance. Assess what is keeping children from coming to school and look for solutions that families can implement immediately.
- Establish community partnerships. While the school should do everything they can to help their students, they don’t have to do it alone. Cultivate relationships with community partners who can help with issues like childcare, housing instability, immigration services, translation services, and other support. Invite service providers to school events and send home frequent notices about opportunities to take advantage of these resources.
- Ignores issues at school. One of the reasons students are chronically absent is because they feel unsafe either at school or on their way to school. Attendance awards may increase these students’ anxiety, lack of belonging, or frustration.
- Instead of issuing attendance awards, assess school climate. If students are feeling anxious about coming to school, think about ways that the school climate could be improved. Even something as simple as displaying student work in the halls or ensuring every child has a strong relationship with an adult in the building through advisory or mentoring programs can make a huge difference.
- Partner with community organizations and local government to assess transportation routes. Work with local government and organizations to assess whether there are safety issues along transportation routes like a lack of street lights, busy intersections, or neighborhoods with high levels of crime. Work with the community to find safe ways for students to get to and from school, perhaps through carpooling or walking school buses.
