Claudette Riley | News-Leader

Nearly 14 percent of Springfield students were chronically absent last year, showing up less than 90 percent of the time.

Put another way, at least 3,000 students missed 17 or more days.

"Over 12 years, that is over 200 days," said Greg Burris, president and CEO of United Way of the Ozarks. "That is more than one school year."

This year, the state's largest district is stepping up efforts to battle chronic absenteeism — defined, by the state, as an attendance rate of 90 percent or less — and getting help from the United Way of the Ozarks.

"One of the things we can do is really support and shine a light," Burris said. "It is a community problem."

Springfield school official Bret Range said part of the challenge is communicating that 90 percent is not good enough. "We need to do a better job of educating people about what chronic absenteeism is."

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As part of its accountability system, the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education asked districts to track — and report publicly — if at least 90 percent of their students show up 90 percent of the time.

'Chronic absenteeism is not good for kids'

The state's proportional attendance rate hovers just at or below 88 percent of students showing up 90 percent of the time.

File photo

"Most of us, if you hear 90 percent attendance, you think '90 is an A, they are there most of the time,'" said Range, executive director of student and school services. "That is not true; 90 percent attendance translates into three weeks of missed school."

He added: "Chronic absenteeism is not good for kids if we expect them to graduate from high school and be successful."

In Springfield, 86.2 percent of students showed up 90 percent of the time for the 2018-19 year, up slightly from the prior year. The length of the school year is 172 days.

Range said while the state requires districts to track the 90/90 metric, Springfield's goal is an attendance rate of 95 percent or higher for all students.

The district employs attendance advisers, nurses, counselors, social workers and others who all play a role in getting students to show up regularly.

Jason "J" Anderson, executive director of elementary learning, said teachers in the early grades are encouraged to call the parents of students who miss school to convey the message that the child is wanted in class.

Springfield Public Schools

He said the "human connection" helps reinforce that each child is valued and the school wants to partner with parents.

"That was our big push at the elementary to let them know they are loved," he said. "We want students to know we want you here, you are not just a student in our system, you are a person."

Anderson said good attendance starts early and can pay off later, as students enroll in college and pursue careers.

"Our workforce says we want people who show up," he said.

Finding community partners

The Springfield district has long partnered with businesses and nonprofits to provide a range of incentives, including pizza parties, for students, classrooms and schools that hit attendance goals.

Guillermo Hernandez Martinez/News-Leader

Each year, the North Springfield Betterment Association hosts an attendance party that provides games and prizes for students with top attendance in 13 elementary schools.

Stephen Hall, chief communications officer for Springfield, said the district met this fall with the United Way to talk about issues including chronic absenteeism.

"If we can work with our community partners, like United Way, to address some of the basic issues and the needs that are driving some of the absenteeism then we are really united the community around a common issue," Hall said. "That is really powerful."

Burris said the nonprofit has been involved in efforts to increase the number of students reading at grade level by third grade. "Kids are not going to learn to read if they are not there."

Submitted by United Way of the Ozarks

The pillars of United Way service are centered on education, health and financial stability and Burris said regular attendance is critical to doing well in school, graduating on time and being a reliable employee.

To develop a plan, the district and United Way are identifying barriers children and their parents face to regular school attendance. Burris said the nonprofit is also interested in working on the issue with other districts in its 14-county service region.

"We are very early in the process," he said.

Area, urban attendance rates

Each year, Missouri school districts are required to report what percentage of students are showing up 90 percent or more.

The highest rates near Springfield were Pleasant View with 98.2 percent and Everton with 97.4 percent. One of the lowest in the area was Reeds Spring with 84.3 percent.

Springfield's rate was 86.2 percent. The state's largest district uses area districts and urban districts as benchmarks for comparison purposes.

The proportional attendance rate for Springfield's area benchmark districts:

Ozark — 93.2

Nixa — 93

Republic - 92.7

Logan-Rogersville — 92.5

Willard —92.3

Branson — 88.2

Joplin — 87.9

Springfield — 86.2

The rate for Springfield's urban benchmark districts: