The Power of Being Present
September is Attendance Awareness Month, which highlights the critical importance of students starting the school year off strong by being present in the classroom. Showing up for school may seem like an easy task- something built into routine, but last year more than 1 in 4 students were identified as chronically absent, meaning they missed at least 10% of school days.
There are many reasons that make attending school regularly challenging, including falling behind academically, lack of motivation from unstable home environments, insufficient clothing or supplies, parents needing babysitters, or no one is available to wake a child for school or encourage their progress.
And yet, school attendance is critical to student success as children who are chronically absent in kindergarten, first, and second grade are much less likely to read on grade level by third grade or even graduate high school.
Creating a positive school culture is a key component to solving chronic absenteeism in our schools, but often the funds needed to motivate students to show up aren't available. Education is impossible if kids aren't present in the classroom.
Jane’s Fund is honored to play a pivotal role by tackling this problem in under-resourced (Title I) schools in CMS by funding creative initiatives that make coming to school regularly something students look forward to, including:
Monthly popcorn, pizza, or dance parties (with glow sticks!) to reward perfect or improved attendance.
School swag (sweatshirts, backpacks, and t-shirts) as incentives to not only come to school but to feel confident and prepared upon arrival.
Ice cream trucks to celebrate academic success and improved attendance and behavior.
Funding "school stores" so students can earn tickets in class for performance and standout behavior to buy footballs, stickers, and games to play at home.
Field trips and experiences like a trip to a petting zoo and to NYC to continue learning beyond school walls.
Creating outdoor spaces (soccer fields, basketball courts) with brand new equipment for scholars to play sports and games with peers during recess or after school.
It takes the community coming together to solve a problem as big as chronic absenteeism. Thanks to you, Jane's Fund is creating a ripple effect, and we can't wait to share with you over this school year all the amazing things students can do when they are present.
"No other organization is quite like Jane's Fund; the way they are able to show up and support our school and students is remarkable and a true game-changer." - Elementary School Principal
Donate to stock a school store with incentives: $2,000
Donate to provide an ice cream truck at a school: $850
