Absences and Behavior Incidents Show Significant Increase on 5-day Calendar

The first 9 weeks of the 2019-2020 school year have come to a close as report cards are being sent home with students for the Chattooga County School District.

AllOnGeorgia took a look at how the 5-day calendar has impacted student absences and student behavior incidents compared to last school year when the district operated on a 4-day calendar.

Total student absences from August 1, 2018 to October 3, 2018 were 4,091 for the district on the 4-day calendar.

Total student absences from August 1, 2019 to October 3, 2019 were 5,670 for the district, a 39% increase with students missing 1,579 more days than last school year on the 5-day calendar.

350 students in the district have already missed more than five days of school.

Enrollment at the high school is down from 795 (counting the Academy students) to 750 students.

The College and Career Ready Performance Index – CCRPI – is Georgia’s annual tool for measuring how well its schools, districts, and the state itself are preparing students for the next educational level. It provides a comprehensive roadmap to help educators, parents, and community members promote and improve college and career readiness for all students.

CCRPI is a comprehensive school improvement, accountability, and communication platform for all educational stakeholders that will promote college and career readiness for all Georgia public school students.

According to the Georgia Department of Education the CCRPI measures for all grade levels, literacy – the ability to read and comprehend texts – and a track record of attendance are
critical measures of college and career readiness.

Documented Behavior Incidents have also saw a significant increase on the 5-day calendar, a startling 49% increase.

Behavior Incident increase by school:

CHS – 24% increase
LMES- 61% increase
LES- 154% increase
SMS- 81% increase
MES- 8% increase

Superintendent Hosmer said Board Member Brad Hayes had asked him about student attendance for the district.

The next Chattooga County Board of Education meeting will be held Thursday, October 17, at 6:00 p.m.

All data in this article was provided by the Superintendent’s Office.