ATTENDANCE+INCENTIVES

The RtI Team has developed an intervention for 120 students with a high number of absences, plus at least one F //or// off track status (not enough credits). Every two weeks, students on this list who show improved attendance will receive a “certificate of improved attendance” and will be entered into a drawing to win gift cards to local businesses.
 * ATTENDANCE INCENTIVE LOTTERY: One intervention among many to change school culture **

** Selection Criteria: ** The benchmark for inclusion is 5 full-day absences, or 40 missed classes. We added in some students who did not quite meet this criterion but who have had at least 5 office referrals due to missed classes. We then asked the Associate Principals to look at their alpha-split to rule out any students who may have missed school due to illness or other reasons beyond their control. School Tools was used for screening. No efforts were made to disaggregate data according to excused and unexcused absences, and this is in accordance with the body of research on attendance interventions.

** Communication: ** A letter describing this intervention will be sent to every student on our list when report cards go home. Essentially, the letter says that staff members at Ithaca High are concerned about their attendance, that we want them to develop the lifelong habit of being present on time, and that we want to help them pass their classes and graduate with their peers.

** Incentives: ** Incentives will consist of $10 gift cards. Every two-weeks, five students will be selected win gift cards. We know that a nominal reward in and of itself may not make a world of difference for some of these kids, but knowing that all of their teachers are working together to support them just might do the trick. The cost of this initiative was funded through a grant by IPEI and represents a pilot, or trial, of a low-intensity incentive program for a targeted group of students. If this is successful, it would make sense to extend the incentives to other groups of students (or to the entire student body). Ideas for this are welcome.