Score: +27 (29/19/2)
Contra Costa County Grand Jury • 2017-2018

Contact: Mario Gutierrez Foreperson

Published: June 12, 2018 17 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 8 findings

F1
The public does not have access to monthly attendance and chronic absenteeism data because districts do not consistently post this data on their websites.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Governing Boards of the WCCUSD and the JSUSD should consider requesting the district superintendents to post monthly attendance data on their websites by the beginning of the 2018 fall semester.
F2
ADA rates do not adequately indicate chronic absentee levels. Although the school districts in West County maintain ADA rates of around 95%, individual school chronic absenteeism rates range from 2.3% to 30.1%, with an average of 14.6%.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Governing Boards of the WCCUSD and the JSUSD should consider including previous year baseline rates, in addition to improvement goals, for attendance and chronic absenteeism in their LCAP Goal 4 by the next LCAP summary deadline.
F3
Average daily attendance is used to calculate funding for school districts in California. School districts can increase their future ADA funds by reducing their chronic absenteeism rates.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
The school districts in West County have had success improving attendance rates by building relationships with students and families.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Since the 2015-2016 school year, the WCCUSD has offered a Parent University course. School administrators believe that this course helps parents, through increased engagement with the school, support their children’s academic success.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Governing Board of the WCCUSD should consider seeking funds, in time for the FY2018-2019 budget cycle, to conduct a study of the Parent University course and its potential in reducing chronic absenteeism through parental engagement. The findings can be shared through the Coordinating Council with other districts and schools to help them reduce their chronic absenteeism rates.
F6
School administrators in West County believe that incentives such as gifts, awards, and school-wide recognition motivate students to come to school.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Communities are generally not aware of the CCCOE Attendance Awareness Every School Day Counts campaign slogan because it is not broadly advertised on school marquees, school websites, and district websites.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools should consider expanding its Attendance Awareness Every School Day Counts campaign through community television and radio, social media, and school marquees prior to the 2018 fall semester.
F8
One of the barriers faced by West County districts in increasing kindergarten attendance is the belief held by some parents and guardians that kindergarten is not educationally important because it is not compulsory.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools should consider highlighting the importance of attending kindergarten through its Attendance Awareness Every School Day Counts campaign in time for the 2019 school year.

Agency Responses 8

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.