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cost to schools of absenteeism
Principal, Prairie Middle School We looked at our attendance from August 27, 2008 up through March 6, 2009 and found the following information: Students in grades 1-4 were absent 409 days during this time period. If students were in attendance 100% of the time, this would have generated approximately $12,270.00 more in attendance. Students in grades 5 -6 were absent approximately 444 days, resulting in a loss of approximately $13,320.00. As you get into the secondary grades 7-12, you find each student worth approximately $48.00. Students in grades 7 – 8, were absent approximately 358 days. If we would have had perfect attendance during this time frame, we would have generated approximately $17,184.00 more in attendance revenue. At the high school, students were gone approximately 1,178 days resulting in a loss of approximately $56,544.00. As we totaled the figures, we came up with an attendance loss of approximately $99,318.00. What constitutes an absence: Students who are sick, needed at home, funerals, suspended, truant, family vacation, and out of town are a few examples. When a student is out of school for an activity related to school, they are counted present for that time period. Examples include: ASVAB testing, clinicals, sporting activities, college day, job shadows, snowed in, volunteer work, and field trips. We hope this provides parents with good information. It isn’t too late to really work hard on getting kids to school and working on recovering some of the attendance dollars. Our funding is based on our best 28 weeks of school. |
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