Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Attendance Initiatives topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Principals outline attendance push: raffles, breakfast groups, targeted outreach
Summary
High-school, middle-school and elementary principals told the board they are using PBIS incentives, first-period contests, raffles for perfect attendance, lunch/breakfast groups and targeted social-worker outreach to reduce chronic absenteeism.
Principals across King George County told the school board the division is pursuing a mix of incentive programs and targeted supports to address chronic absenteeism.
Dr. Burns, the high school principal, emphasized school climate and student voice as the foundation for attendance, saying socialization is a main reason students come to school. At the middle school, leaders described a WRAP expectation—"respectful, accountable, productive, and present"—and several concrete incentives: weekly first-period contests with classroom rewards, a monthly raffle that awards a free lunch to a student and three friends for perfect monthly attendance, and random homeroom prize drops to reward presence.
Middle-school staff described Tier 2 interventions including weekly meetings with a social worker and a school attendance coordinator, individual outreach and Friday lunch groups for students at risk of chronic absenteeism. The elementary principals said all elementary schools share an attendance team that reviews a spreadsheet of students exceeding an absence threshold and responds with letters, home visits, and breakfast clubs; Tier 1 incentives include brag tags, pep rallies and schoolwide recognition.
Jeff Smith, the division attendance coordinator, and Betsy DeZula (middle-school social worker) were cited by principals as key staff who meet with students and families. Board members asked about the data and results; presenters said they are seeing progress in some cohorts and that programs are staffed within current resources while requesting continued support to sustain interventions.
The report did not include a formal motion; board members thanked principals and students for the presentations and acknowledged the importance of continued investment in staffing and outreach.
