2018-2019 Polk Vision Annual Report PV AR 2019_web | Page 12

ATTENDANCE
2017-201 8
Before 2030, Polk County will
have a world-class, fully integrated
education system that supports
the needs of a vibrant, progressive
community.
201 8 -2019
34.35
The Polk County School District’s Strategic Plan identifies reducing student
absenteeism as key to improving student achievement. Studies have shown
that missing ten percent, roughly 18 days per school year, negatively affects a
student’s academic performance. 
30.52
29.10
23.47
During the 2017-2018 school year the Polk Vision Attendance Team together
with Polk County Public Schools adopted a multi-pronged tactical plan for five
pilot schools that included an integrated message campaign - Strive For Less
Than 5 TM  Days Absent. Inspired by the success achieved by the Grand Rapids,
Michigan School District (Believe 2 Become, 2016), the plan hinges upon school
staff, parents, and community leaders collaborating to address the critical issue
of school attendance.
2018-2019 marked the second year of the pilot program. The Attendance
Team continued to work with the schools to implement strategies that
encourage attendance early in the students’ academic lives. The hope is for
the commitment to become a positive habit into middle and high school and
even as a future contributor to the workforce. Of the original five pilot schools,
four continued through the second year. With the exit of CODE Academy from the
program, Crystal Lake Elementary, A Community Partnership School, joined the pilot.
LEFT: Support at the
District and School
leadership level is at the
core of any successful
pilot program. Polk County
School Board Members
officially supported the
launch of year two of
the Challenge 5™ pilot
program in Fall 2018.
28.50
26.22 26.22
22.95
21.47
20.18
LEFT: The Attendance Team meeting at
Griffin Elementary School. Over the past
year, the Team has been convening on
pilot school campuses, enabling them
to greet students and personally check
on the campaign status with school
leadership prior to the monthly meeting.
CRYSTAL E AG LE
L AKE
L AKE
GARN E R
G RIFFIN
ABOVE: A year to year comparison
of chronic absenteeism rates
show improvement in each of
the Challenge 5 TM Pilot Schools.
• Crystal Lake Elementary
• Eagle Lake Elementary
• Garner Elementary
• Griffin Elementary
• Palmetto Elementary
(Source: Polk County Public Schools)
PALM ET TO
The Attendance Team’s Tactical Plan
continued to pursue strategies that
leverage the Strive For Less Than
5 TM  Days Absent messaging campaign. 
In September 2018, during
Attendance Awareness Month, a
refreshed Strive for Less than 5™
video featuring Superintendent
Byrd and Sheriff Grady Judd was
released along with expanded
campaign materials including
buttons, wall murals, posters
and outdoor signs. Throughout
the month, Team members and
volunteers met students as they
arrived at participating schools with
enthusiastic words of welcome, high
fives, and fist bumps. These personal
greetings were so well received that
the practice continued over the course
of the school year with Team members
and community volunteers periodically
greeting arriving students.
With the help of community
partners the Team plans to expand
Attendance awareness activities
to include student recognition
and incentives. Each of the five
pilot schools will continue to use
messaging materials to encourage
students to show up every day, on
time and ready to learn.
Our school system deserves the support
of advocates who want the best for
all students. I believe in Polk Vision’s
commitment to building a team of
partners who are dedicated to reducing
absenteeism. School officials, teachers,
parents, and community leaders are
working together at our five pilot schools
to implement strategies that encourage
students to Strive for Less Than Five TM
Days Absent. Occasionally, we greet the
students as they arrive at school. Every
moment served on this committee is
worth it when I see eager children arrive at
school ready to learn.
— CHANDRA FREDERICK, Director,
Building Division, Polk County BoCC
Permission to use Challenge 5™, Strive for Less Than Five™ Days Absent Campaign granted on behalf of Believe 2 Become (B2B), an initiative of the Doug and Maria
DeVos Foundation.
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