Attendance

Documenting Attendance

Attendance App
Attendance is recorded every day for each Head Start/Early Head Start (HS/EHS) student in the ChildPlus Online Attendance on your classroom iPad. The ChildPlus Attendance Instructions document below provides detailed instructions for signing in and recording attendance.
Attendance and Absence Code Instructions (7/24)

Recording Daily Attendance Status

Enter "Present" if a child is present on any day.
Enter "Absent" if a child is absent for all HS/EHS program hours for any HS/EHS day.
- Remember to record the reason for absences and how contact was made with the family. Refer to the Attendance and Absence Code Instructions for entering Reasons and Notes. Refer to the Absence Reasons chart for guidance on when to use each Reason.
Enter "Not Scheduled" if:
- a Head Start child has attended four days that week and is absent on the fifth day.
- Enter "Not Scheduled" if:
  - on the fourth and/or fifth day an Early Head Start child is absent within any given week regardless of how many days the child attended.
    - While Early Head Start children can attend 5 days a week, attendance requirements are based on 3 day week minimum. See examples below:
      - A child attends M, T, and Th. Mark those days "Present" and "Not Scheduled" for W and F.
      - A child attends M and W. Mark those days "Present". Then mark one of the days the child did not attend as "Absent" (either T, Th or F) and the other two days as "Not Scheduled".
      - A child attends on W only. Mark that day “Present”. Then mark two of the remaining days as “Absent” and the other two days as “Not Scheduled”.
      - A child attends M-Th. Mark all four of those days as “Present”. Mark F as “Not Scheduled”.
      - A child attends M-F. Mark all 5 days “Present”.
  - a child does not attend on a snow day and your classroom remains open.
Enter "No Class" if:
- your site is closed for a training day, snow day, or holiday.
- your classroom does not offer care on Fridays.

Attendance Posters
Families receive a copy of the posters below in their acceptance packets and at their enrollment meetings with their FSS.

HS Attendance Poster EHS Attendance Poster

Boy Standing Near Shelf under license CCO

"Early school success goes hand in hand with good attendance!" ~Attendance Works

Absence Reasons Chart

Attendance Works

Check out the Attendance Works website below for more resources for programs and families.

https://www.attendanceworks.org/

Preschool Parent Attendance flier

Too Sick for School flyer

Attendance Concerns

Unexplained Absences
To ensure child well-being and family safety the following steps are to be implemented for unexplained absences:

When a child is unexpectedly absent and a parent or guardian has not contacted the program within one hour of the expected time of arrival, the program must attempt to contact the parent by the end of the day. Document the reason for absence and who made the contact in ChildPlus Attendance.
If you are unable to make contact with the family that day, choose "Unexpected Absence" from the "Absence Reason" list.
Your Coordinator or Family Services Specialist(FSS) is required to complete a home visit to check for child and family safety if a child has multiple unexplained absences (such as two consecutive unexplained absences). Notify your Coordinator/FSS within 24 hours if a student has two unexplained absences on consecutive days, and you are unable to make contact with the family.

Attendance Follow up
Missing more than two days per month will result in a child falling below 90% of attendance, which could negatively impact students' learning. Beginning in November at monthly recaps, you and your Coordinator and/or FSS will identify children who are in danger of falling below 90% of attendance and you will work together to create a plan for supporting each family's unique needs. Refer to the Attendance Guidance document below for more information about supporting students in attaining optimal attendance.
                                         Attendance Guidance (7/24)
                                 EHS Attendance Success Plan (7/24)
                                   HS Attendance Success Plan (7/24)
   Blank Certificate

Get Creative!
There are a variety of ways we can work together to encourage families to strive for 90% attendance. A few ideas:

Recognize children/families who are having successes- big or small- with a fun certificate. Use the Blank Certificate and personalize for the children/families you are working with.
Send out "I miss you cards" to children who have been absent. Talk to your coordinator if you need cards for mailing out (they are available with the stamps already on them).
If you know children will be absent for an extended period, send home some At Home activities for the family to do together. Pre-made activity kits are available from your coordinator. The activities align with the Creative Curriculum.

HSPPS 1302.16 Attendance