Oregon SD Improves Attendance with Help from Software

Grants Pass School District 7 has improved absenteeism within the last two years with the help of a software program that tracks enrollment and notifies parents of absences.

The Oregon school district recently compiled attendee record data and according to their findings, absenteeism has improved by 3.7% — from 14.3% in 2017 to 10.6% this year. The improvement equates to around 220 students showing better attendance.

Director of Secondary Education Trisha Evens told a local news station that five years ago the district noticed absenteeism was high from a state report and implemented a plan to change it.

In 2018, the district began using software called School Innovations and Achievements that tracks absences and notifies parents.

Evens says they meet with students who are at a high risk for absences and their parents. The school discusses with them what may be going on that would make them absent from school. Then they set up a program with incentives to encourage better attendance.

“It really does start with that intentional relationship that we’re trying to build as the adults with the students that come in.” Evens said.

About the Author

Yvonne Marquez is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • T&T Construction Management Group Completes Pasco High School Expansion

    Pasco High School in Dade City, Fla., recently announced that it has completed an expansion project in partnership with T&T Construction Management Group, Inc., Harvard Jolly Architecture, and Williams Company.

  • South Texas K–12 District Debuts Region’s First Electric Bus Fleet

    The Valley View Independent School District in Pharr, Texas, recently announced a partnership with Highland Electric Fleets to launch the district’s—and the region’s—first fleet of all-electric school buses, according to a news release.

  • Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, OR

    Preserving Legacy, Designing for the Future

    As historic academic buildings age, institutions face a difficult decision: preserve and adapt or demolish and rebuild. How do we honor the legacy of these spaces while adapting them to meet the needs of modern learners?

  • Rhode Island Boarding School Completes Student Dorm Renovations

    St. George’s School in Middletown, R.I., recently announced the completion of a $26-million renovation project on Arden-Diman-Eccles Dormitory, according to a news release. The school partnered with Voith & Mactavish Architects (VMA) on the new space, which places a new focus on collaborative community spaces open to both boarding students and day students.

Digital Edition