Combating Chronic Absenteeism: Driving Impact through Relationships

MENTOR:// The National Mentoring Partnership [http://www.mentoring.org] in conjunction with the Congressional Mentoring Caucus invites you to attend COMBATING CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM: DRIVING IMPACT THROUGH RELATIONSHIPS. In the 2013-2014 school year over 6.8 million students were CHRONICALLY ABSENT, missing 10 percent or more of the school year. CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM CAN BE AN INDICATOR OF ACADEMIC UNDERPERFORMANCE, lowered literacy and mathematical skills and high school drop-out. In fact, attendance during middle school can be equally, if not more, predictive than test scores of likelihood of high school graduation. School administrators, researchers, policymakers and advocates are collaborating to combat CHRONIC ABSENCE USING EVIDENCE-based strategies that emphasize consistent mentoring RELATIONSHIPS. Strengths-based, data-driven mentoring programming integrated into a school community can reduce absence by providing targeted supports for students who are CHRONICALLY ABSENT OR AT RISK, which help uncover the factors that prevent students from attending school and connect families with needed resources. This panel will explore the IMPACT CHRONIC ABSENCE HAS ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, provide successful models of school-integrated mentoring with examples from school administrators and give advocates and policymakers the tools they need to combat CHRONIC ABSENCE. SPEAKERS INCLUDE: Dr. Robert Balfanz [http://new.every1graduates.org/robert-balfanz/], Director, Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University Delia Hagan [http://www.mentoring.org/our-work/about-mentor/leadership/senior-leadership-and-staff/#1458840700555-0eee7cc2-6ad7], Program Director, MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership Brian Johnson [http://webgui.phila.k12.pa.us/schools/t/tilden/about-us], Principal, William T. Tilden Middle School, Philadelphia Dr. Jane Sundius [http://www.attendanceworks.org/jane-sundius-senior-fellow/], Senior Fellow, Attendance Works MODERATED BY: Elizabeth Santiago [http://www.mentoring.org/our-work/about-mentor/leadership/senior-leadership-and-staff/#1445885160854-be2e52aa-355e], Chief Program Officer, MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership  *PLEASE REGISTER AS LUNCH WILL BE SERVED* This event has been designed to comply with Congressional Gift Rules.