Washington Unified School District's "Be Here! Don't Skip Out on Success" campaign encourages daily attendance through positive reinforcement. Photo courtesy of Washington Unified School District

WEST SACRAMENTO, CA (MPG) - There is no better time for National Attendance Awareness Month than September. 

"This is a perfect opportunity to renew our commitment to consistent school attendance and set a positive tone for the entire school year," said Washington Unified School District (WUSD) Communications executive director Giorgios Kazanis.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) asks why attendance matters, answering, "A missed school day is a lost opportunity for students to learn."

Kazanis concurs.

"Regular attendance is crucial for our students' success,” Kazanis said. "When our students are physically, mentally and emotionally present, they benefit from the incredible support network we've built to help them reach their full potential."

Washington Unified School District teachers stress the importance of attendance daily with their students. Photo courtesy of Washington Unified School District

Reaching that full potential meant creating a program that ensures students show up, which is why Washington Unified School District implemented the "Be Here! Don't Skip Out on Success" campaign.

"It is a homegrown initiative developed by WUSD in response to our specific community needs," Kazanis said. "We didn't find this resource elsewhere; rather, we created it based on extensive data analysis, feedback from our school board meetings, internal communications, and community forums."

The National Center for Education Statistics reported that student learning and attendance studies are constantly evolving "in this era of increased accountability for states, districts and schools."

"As a result, education agencies are asked with increasing frequency to report attendance data in a standard manner to allow comparisons across organizations and jurisdictions,” National Center for Education Statistics reported.

Washington Unified School District was one step ahead, studying figures for a while.

"With an all-time high of 30.83% chronic absenteeism in the 2021-2022 school year, the message was clear: something needed to address the disparity," Kazanis said. 'The ‘Be Here!'’ campaign was conceived, implemented and sustained through data-driven decision-making. The campaign uses a variety of creative elements to engage our diverse student population."

According to the communication director, motion graphics and animated text capture students' attention across digital platforms, and video stories featuring local students, teachers and community members create relatable content.

"Multilingual communication ensures we reach all demographics in our district," Kazanis said, adding, "Positive reinforcement messaging, rather than punitive measures, encourages attendance."

Improved attendance metrics prove the program's success with a 2% increase in average daily attendance and a 5% decrease in chronic absenteeism in the 2023-2024 school year compared to 2022-2023.

According to the communication director, maintaining daily attendance creates a crucial monthly check-in date.

"Check-ins allow us to identify attendance issues early and intervene promptly while fostering a sense of community and shared responsibility for attendance," Kazanis said, adding regular communication keeps attendance at the forefront of everyone's mind.

"It enables us to adjust our strategies based on real-time data and feedback," Kazanis added.

Some feedback falls on the parents’ lack of enforcement for various reasons. 

"We prioritize personalized support through our dedicated school counselors and social workers, who work closely with families to understand their unique circumstances and develop tailored solutions," Kazanis said, citing the Community Schools Initiative.

 Washington Unified School District's "Be Here! Don't Skip Out on Success" campaign encourages daily attendance through positive reinforcement. Photo courtesy of Washington Unified School District

The program connects families with essential resources, including healthcare and housing assistance, to address underlying issues that might affect attendance, among other challenges.

"We work hard to build positive relationships with guardians to encourage their involvement," Kazanis said, adding supportive home visits and before and after-school programs accommodate varying family schedules.

Now that children are back in school and summer is almost over, it's time to focus.

"Let's use the energy from our Labor Day break to start September strong. We encourage everyone to prioritize attendance and arrive at school on time, ready to learn," Kazanis said. "Every school day is an opportunity for growth, learning and connection, so let's make each day count."