Harrison Elementary third grader Clover McLaughlin dreams of becoming a singer and songwriter. She believes attending school every day will help her achieve that goal.
“Things like writing class and listening to stories will help me,” said McLaughlin. “I like coming to school because I get to see my friends, and I love how my teachers are kind to me.”
September is Attendance Awareness Month, highlighting how regular school attendance benefits student success. Attending school on time every day helps students stay on track for graduation.
“Attendance is essential because it touches the academic and personal success of every child,” said Kami Piechota, Omaha Public Schools attendance and school support liaison supervisor. “When students attend, they feel connected and a sense of belonging to their school.”
Omaha Public Schools has attendance teams at every school. They work closely with students, families and school administrators to tackle attendance challenges and ensure that students get the support they need to be at school every day. Karen Spurgeon is an attendance liaison. She helps bridge the gap between schools and families.
“We work with social workers and counselors, meet with families and go on home visits,” said Spurgeon. “We’re here to help families.”
Omaha Public Schools recently enhanced the attendance support available to students and families through federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds. Our district invested in professional development for staff and resources that allow for more home visits to help families reduce barriers to attendance. The funding also strengthened mental health services.
“Having someone in the building who can touch base with students and have conversations with them, who makes them feel valued and gives them a sense of belonging, will make them want to come to school,” Spurgeon said.
Students attending school regularly are more likely to be on or above grade level academically. For families concerned about attendance or needing support, Piechota advises contacting your child’s school first.
“We want to be able to have conversations around attendance so that we can define the barrier and then align resources to that barrier to attendance,” said Piechota.
Visit the Omaha Public Schools website for attendance information and resources.
Sept. 2024
