Keep Your Eye on the AISD Attend-O-Meter!

Every Day Counts! That's the slogan of our campaign to improve student attendance at every elementary, middle and high school in Austin. We have tons of information for parents about the importance of regular attendance on our website, so check out this link: Every Day Counts.

Improving student attendance is a key component of our Strategic Plan and is a top priority for the 2010-2011 school year. We're working with students, families, and the community to ensure regular school attendance and improve academic achievement. Here are five important facts about the importance of attendance:

1. Missing school one day per week means missing one full year of instruction for every five years that they are in school.
2. Every day a student is absent from class costs AISD $45 in revenue from the state.
3. If we raise the attendance rate by just 1 percent district-wide, it would result in $5.6 million per year in increased state revenue. That's money that goes directly into your child's education.
4. If AISD had 100% attendance each year, the school district would receive $50-$60 million in additional state funding annually.
5. A diploma has an economic value! High school graduates earn 38 percent more than those without a diploma, and college graduates earn 140 percent more! By graduating from high school, your child can earn more than a million dollars in their lifetime. That can lead to even greater success if they attend college.

You really ought to check out our new Attend-O-Meter. The meter keeps track of six-week attendance rates by campus and grade level. How's your school doing? Is it meeting its attendance goals? Is attendance higher than last year? The Attend-O-Meter can tell you. I'll be checking the Attend-O-Meter every six weeks. You can too! Just click on this link: Attend-O-Meter.

So far this year, I've commended Bryker Woods and Dawson elementary schools, Fulmore and Garcia middle schools, and Garza High School for the greatest attendance gains over the same period in 2009. Way to go!

The next Attend-O-Meter update will be on November 10.