SAN DIEGO UNIFIED RECOGNIZED FOR ABSENCE REDUCTION
Largest District in State Named 'Model of Attendance Improvement'
SAN DIEGO Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction,
traveled to San Diego today to congratulate the San Diego Unified School
District on its successful efforts to reduce absenteeism.
Torlakson has named San Diego Unified one of 11 districts in California
that are "models of attendance improvement."
San Diego Unified is reporting its third year of attendance gains, with
more than 96 percent of students in school or on excused absences every
day.
"We can't teach students if they're not in class," said San Diego's
Superintendent, Bill Kowba. "This has been a total effort among staff and
the community to do everything possible to make sure kids are in school."
The effort was a combination of teams from the district's School
Attendance Review Board; the ORBIT team, which implemented new computer
software to track absenteeism; and the Dropout Prevention program, said
Kowba.
Contributing to the results were efforts by school attendance clerks, as
well as principals, teachers, counselors and other school staff members.
"Our great support by the parents, our community partners and the
wonderful residents of San Diego contributes to this success," said Dr.
John Lee Evans, Board of Education President. "They know that if they see
a school-age child out and about on a school day, there should be some
questions asked. Specifically, why isn't that child in school."
Districts awarded by the Model SARB program are those that are taking
positive approaches to help students and families improve attendance,
rather than just seek to punish offenders.
"While we need to address problems with truancy, we cannot overlook
students and families that may need support due to health or emotional
problems, or who may simply not realize the importance of regular school
attendance, even in kindergarten," Torlakson said.
# # #
CONTACT: Jack Brandais | Communications Department | San Diego Unified
School District | (619) 725-5570 (Desk) | (619) 607-0477 (Cell)
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