Bibb County schools focus on absenteeism during Attendance Awareness Week

District leaders say absenteeism is a growing challenge, and community support is key to keeping students in class.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Bibb County Schools are marking Attendance Awareness Week with rallies, parent outreach and midweek check-ins to highlight the importance of students being in class every day.

District attendance coordinator Takeysha Lewis says absenteeism is a challenge across the country.

“Not just in Bibb County, but nationwide,” she said. “There has been an issue with absenteeism especially post Covid. And what we are doing here is highlighting that and also rallying our community together because it’s not just a school issue, it is a community issue.”

Lewis says Bibb County has several programs that focus on students who have missed several days of school.

“In order to identify who those students are, to be able to provide any support to eliminate any barriers and also to provide encouragement for students and families to encourage their attendance so that they can be successful in the classroom,” Lewis said.

She says the district looks at trend data, which shows most students are absent on Fridays and during bad weather.

“So, what we are doing is, one looking to identify what that issue is and also provide that support so that we can educate our students and our families on the importance of attendance,” Lewis said. “Not just the first four days of the week but for the full week of school.”

Bruce Elementary student engagement facilitator Katanga Foster says this week is about setting an example for students.

“Were celebrating by having a spirit week,” Foster said. “Each day focuses on something that has to do with attendance. So, today is our pajama day! We’re trying to get kids not to sleep in but to come to school.”

Foster says teaching kids early pays off.

“So, the younger you start the better the kids will become,” Foster said. “They have rituals and routines that come into fruition with as far as when they go into the next grade and even out into the community when they start going to college and going to work. So, the earlier we start then the better we will see the chance of them improving.”

Lewis says the district is continuing to build new strategies to keep students in school.