September 7, 2023
Dear Brady Exploration School (BXS) Community,
As we settle into the new school year, we are excited to share that September marks Attendance Awareness Month. One of our goals this year is to provide extraordinary student experiences by making student attendance a priority. Across Colorado and the country, student chronic absenteeism is on the rise.
What is Chronic Absenteeism?
Chronic absenteeism means missing 10 percent or more of the total enrolled days during the school year for any reason. It includes both excused, unexcused, out-of-school suspensions, and in-school suspensions that last more than one-half of the school day. Colorado ranks sixth highest absenteeism rate in the country.
Currently, Brady Exploration School has an attendance rate of 72.54% for our Blended Program students and 72.57% for our Online Program students. We believe we can and must do better for our students to be successful in school and beyond. A “100%” is never possible, especially as we move into cold and flu season, but an 85% to 90% is achievable for all students in Brady’s programs.
Why Does Attendance Matter?
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Research demonstrates a strong connection between student attendance and academic performance.
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Regular attendance allows students to establish and nurture relationships.
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Students who get to school each day have a better chance of learning and succeeding.
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Research shows that students that miss two days of school per month can struggle with reading and this may lead to social emotional stress.
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When your student misses school they also lose valuable learning time, can fall behind in their school work and as a result, it’s difficult to catch up.
We understand some absences are unavoidable due to illness or family emergencies but we also know that students who miss too much school, even occasionally, can fall behind academically or socially.
Tips to Support Families
Here are a few helpful tips to help support regular, on-time attendance:
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Make sure your student is getting enough sleep.
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Limit the use of electronic devices in the bedroom.
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Set out clothes and backpacks the night before so your student is ready to go in the morning.
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Establish a set morning routine to support getting out the door on time.
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Only keep your student home if they are truly sick.
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Talk to your student’s teacher, counselor or other parents in the community about what has worked for them to motivate their students to attend school.
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Avoid scheduling vacations and doctor’s appointments when school is in session
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Have a backup plan for unexpected situations.
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If there are challenges in getting your student to school, please contact your school or Family Response Service Team (FRST) for support.
Our staff will be working on incentives for students and classrooms to encourage and celebrate good and improved student attendance. Attendance also shows the Jeffco communities the need and value of Brady Exploration School’s programs.
If you need additional support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Brady by calling 303-982-6722 so together we can create a plan to better support your student. We believe that regular attendance is a key factor in your student’s academic progress and overall growth. Let’s continue to work together to emphasize to our students when they show up, students can thrive!
In Partnership,
Dr. Marc Gomes, Alternative Education Campus (AEC) Network Principal
and
Rhonda Robbins, Associate Principal Brady Exploration High School