Enterprise High School

Improving Class Attendance for the

Driver and Traffic Education Class at
Enterprise High School
Joseph Thornton
Jacksonville State University
Enterprise High School
Problem Statement
Tenth thru twelfth grade students at
Enterprise High School who have a high
absentee rate while in Driver and Traffic Safety
Education class have lower class averages than
students who attend regularly.
Enterprise High School
Hypothesis and Definitions
Hypothesis
Students in the Driver Traffic and Safety Education Class at Enterprise High
School who are exposed to The Importance of School Attendance Program during
class , will not be chronically absent. This should improve the students class grade
average.

Definitions

Driver Traffic and Safety Education Class- a program to learn the fundamentals of
safe and responsible driving within a variety of environments.

The Importance of School Attendance Program- a program that encourages school
attendance thru making students feel welcome, parent contacts, student
counseling, character education, and good attendance rewards.

Chronically absent- missing 10% or more of days in the class.

Enterprise High School
Literature Review
The literature on attendance reviewed was divided into
research, effectiveness of procedures, and methodology.
Student absence categories were divided in the following
way:
1. The subject of the importance of school
2. Why students have poor attendance
3. The results of poor attendance
A. Poor class attendance and it effects on classroom grades
B. Poor class attendance as it pertains to student dropouts
4. The prevention of poor attendance
A. Early intervention
B. Methods and tools used to prevent poor attendance

Enterprise High School
Action Plan
Methods and procedures to improve attendance:
1. On the first day of class clarify and communicate school attendance policies to
the students and their parents.
2. A healthy classroom atmosphere ( Let them know you care)
A. Know your students names
B. Set a good example. Be present
C. Use engaging high quality instruction
D. Make the classroom feel safe (Icebreakers)
E. Arrange the room in a way that communication is welcome and open
3. Incentives
A. Perfect attendance board
B. Perfect attendance reward drawing at end of the nine weeks.
4. Intervention (Show them you care)
A. Contact parents at when the student is absent
B. Speak to the student immediately about the absence when they return
C. Refer students to school counselors

Enterprise High School
References
Balfanz, R., & Byrnes, V. (2012, October). The Importance of Being In School: A Report on Absenteeism in the
Nation's Public Schools. Retrieved January 27, 2013, from eddigest.com: www.eddigest.com
Barfield, K. A., Hartman, J., & Knight, D. (2012, Febuary/March). Early Warning Systems: It's Never Too Early.
Retrieved January 30, 2013, from ebscohost: ebscohost.com
Borman, W. C., Hanson, M. A., Opplet, S. H., Pulakos, E. D., & White, L. A. (1993). Role of the supervisor in
education. Journal of Educational Psychology , 78, 443-449.
Dube, S. R., & Orpinas, P. (2009). Understanding Exessive School Absenteeism as School Refusal Behavior.
Children and Schools , 87-96.
Force, D. a. (2007). Alabama Course of Study: Driver and Traffic Safetu Education State Course of Study.
Montgomery .
Kronholz, J. (2011). Getting At-Risk Teens to Graduation. Retrieved January 28, 2013, from ebscohost:
ebscohost.com
Mac Iver, M. A., & J., M. I. (2010, November 2010). How Do We Ensure that Everyone Graduates? An Integrated
Prevention and Tiered Intervention Model for Schools and Districts. Retrieved from
web.ebscohost: http://web.ebscohost.com
Moore, R. (2005). Attendance: Are Penalties More Effective Than Rewards? Journal of Developmental Education ,
26-32.
Paper Clip Communications. (2011, May 9). Attendance Program Tracks Student Absences. Curriculum Review, p. 6.
Sinclaire, J. K., Simon, J. C., Campbell, C. J., & Brown, J. C. (2011). Skills versus Concepts: Attendance and Grades
in Information Technolgy Courses. International Journal of Education , 3.
Weissberg, R. (2010). The Phony War to "Keep Them in School". Society , 301-307.