Alabaster superintendent encouraging attendance to help students, combat chronic absenteeism
ALABASTER, Ala. (WBRC) - An area school district is using Attendance Awareness Month as a reminder to parents to prevent their students from falling behind.
At Thompson High School, there is a common phrase that can be heard around the halls.
“It’s a great day to be a Warrior,” said Alabaster City Schools Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers.
The superintendent added it is especially “great” when students are in the classroom.
“If you’ve been out a couple days per month and then you get the flu in March and you’re out seven days, it may put you at that chronic absenteeism,” Vickers said.
The superintendent tells WBRC the 6,200 students in Alabaster City Schools have been showing up and showing out, but he wants to keep it that way.
According to Attendance Works, chronic absenteeism translates into students having trouble learning to read by the third grade and having difficulty graduating from high school.
Dr. Vickers said it takes missing nearly four school weeks.
“If you’re out 18 days in a school year, that’s 10% of the instructional days that you’ve missed,” he said. “Whether you’re a student that’s struggling, or whether you’re a student that’s doing very well, it’s very difficult to make up that time.”
While students can make up their work, he said they are missing valuable in-person instruction.
That is why ACS is building three-day weekends and “E-Days” into its school calendar.
Vickers urges parents to take advantage of these days.
“Use those times,” he said. “Use your calendar when you’re making those plans. Make sure that you can set that doctor’s appointment maybe for 3:30 p.m. instead of 8:30 a.m. and those types of things. I’ve been very pleased with our parents working with us in that role.”
Dr. Vickers said, in the long-term, school attendance teaches work ethic that can help students in the professional world.
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