Selma City Schools officials tackle absenteeism problem

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

Selma City Schools is making a concerted effort to address the problem of chronic absenteeism by students in the district.

The “Reignite the Light by Attending Class” initiative — is an effort to reinforce the importance of attendance — in the education process. Schools are continuing to conduct attendance audits — to accurately track and record attendance.

Officials say absenteeism is one of the indicators schools and school districts are graded on by the state. They say it’s impossible to teach a child — who is not at school.

“A lot of people in our community and parents and even our students may not understand how important attendance is,” said Dr. Jaclyn Brown Wright.

“Chronic absenteeism is one of the indicators that our entire school district and all of our schools are graded on.”

“So if they are not here for a reason that is unknown to us, it’s labeled as an unexcused absence,” said Dr. Alisa Smiley Rudolph.

“So, that turns into truancy once they’ve accumulated excessive unexcused absences.”

School officials tell Action 8 News that the absentee rate was about 32-percent last year. They say the goal is bring that number down — to about 10-percent.