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There are a variety of
services and activities that can impact elementary school absenteeism
by reducing risk factors and building protective factors.
Promising practices include:
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changing community expectations through
public awareness and media campaigns,
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providing culturally competent
parent education,
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providing universal preschool,
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training child care
providers about school readiness,
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sponsoring homework clubs
through family resource centers, churches and other sites.
It is important to change student habits through positive incentives
and anti-bullying programs. Changing school staff norms calls for
providing extra support for teachers, focusing on high expectations,
and establishing positive incentives for schools and teachers.
The
school environment can be improved by:
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providing extra academic
support and more after school programs,
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enriching school programs such
as music and art,
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better transition at entry to kindergarten,
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using
multidisciplinary teams to work with the family,
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strengthening the
school/parent relationship.
Healthy Start provides an excellent
model of linking the services of outside partners. Family
resource centers can provide centralized case management for families
with multiple problems. Health services provided on the school
campus including perinatal outreach, school-screening assessments, and
assistance enrolling in health insurance are effective. Home
visitation, outreach, and linkages to support groups make a
difference.
Developing alternatives to suspension, improving communication by promptly
calling parents when a student is absent, and countywide coordination of school
calendars can also make a difference.
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