If we’re going to reduce chronic absence, we know we need to use every resource available to us. Among our best allies in this work are afterschool programs. Research shows again and again that school day attendance improves when students are engaged in the right kind of program after school, one that provides a connection to a caring adult, enriching activities and the academic support kids needs This came up again last week as we participated in a webinar and released an article we wrote, Building a Culture of Attendance: Schools and Afterschool Programs Together Can and Should Make a Difference!
The article explains why quality afterschool programs can have such a profound effect on student attendance: