Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches ‘Your Presence Is
Powerful’ Campaign to Raise Awareness of Importance of School Attendance
Students, educators, families encouraged to submit
a creative piece of
artwork, music, photography, videography, or writing by December 20
BOSTON – The Healey-Driscoll Administration launched
the ‘Your Presence is Powerful’ campaign today as part of their continued efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism and
support students getting back into the classroom where they have access to a
variety of supports, including universal free school meals and mental health
services.
Emphasizing the importance of attending school, the
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is asking students,
school staff, educators and families
in Massachusetts public pre-K-12 schools and adult learning classes to submit a
creative piece of artwork,
music, photography, videography or writing to express why they attend school. Submissions are
due by December 20, 2024.
“Our administration has been working hard to ensure all
students have access to a high-quality education in which they receive the
support and services they need and always feel welcome. But it’s so important
that students are attending school so that they can have these experiences and
learn and grow with their peers,” said Governor Maura Healey. “It's
great to see the attendance numbers moving in the right direction. We're proud
of the progress our state made last year, and this new campaign will help
remind people how important it is to attend school.”
“September is always a new beginning in schools, and we want to start this
school year strong, building on the improvements we made last year,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim
Driscoll. “I look forward to seeing all of the creative projects our
students and educators submit, showing why they love going to school and why it
is so important.”
Chronic absenteeism continues to affect schools throughout
the country. Before the pandemic, 13 percent of Massachusetts students were
chronically absent, meaning they had missed 10 percent or more of the school
year, or at least 18 days. Chronic absenteeism rates are still above
pre-pandemic levels, but the state is making progress, with the statewide rate decreasing 5
percentage points from 24.5 percent in March 2023 to 19.6 percent in March
2024. That is also a nearly 10 percentage point decrease from March 2022.
“Absenteeism is really a manifestation of an unmet need.
Schools offer counseling, extracurricular activities, meals, and the chance to
learn with and from students’ peers. If students aren’t there, they can’t
benefit from these opportunities and are missing out on so much more than their
education,” said Education
Secretary Patrick Tutwiler. “While there is still much more progress to make, thanks to the
hard work of families, educators and entire school communities, we are moving
in the right direction. It’s clear our efforts are working.”
“Chronic absenteeism can significantly hinder a student's
learning, their ability to build relationships, and access the additional
support they need,” said Acting Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary
Education Russell D. Johnston. “I’m encouraged to see attendance
rates improving, and I’m optimistic that districts and families will keep
collaborating with us to make schools vibrant, engaging destinations for all
students.”
The Department has resources and supports available for
schools and districts related to chronic
absenteeism, including family
engagement resources, guidance on attendance policies and best practices for schools (download), and
information on initiatives designed to promote welcoming and supportive school
environments for all students.
The Your Presence Is Powerful campaign builds on the
significant investment and historic policies the Healey-Driscoll Administration
has delivered for students and schools, including:
- Fully
funding the Student Opportunity Act the last two years, delivering the
largest investment in K-12 schools in our state’s history to reduce
opportunity and achievement gaps.
- Making
universal access to free lunch and breakfast every day in school permanent
for public school students – one of only eight states in the country to
continue this when the federal funding ended.
- Launching
Governor Healey’s Literacy Launch Initiative, a nation-leading strategy
to expand access to evidence-based reading instruction for Massachusetts
students.
- Dedicating
a portion of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief
funds to award districts and educational collaboratives $10,000 each last
year to address chronic absenteeism, including to strengthen or scale
family engagement initiatives or student monitoring programs, or to
provide attendance recovery academies.
- Investing
an unprecedented $13 million in the Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition (BRYT) program,
an in-school program supporting students who have fallen behind
academically due to challenges with their mental health. This investment
funds the creation of BRYT programs at more than 30 high-need schools
across Massachusetts. This is the first time the state has provided
funding to establish BRYT in schools; the program has historically only
been available to districts with the economic resources to get it off the
ground.
- Investing
$5 million through the Fiscal Year 2025 budget to develop a new statewide
mental and behavioral health framework for birth through higher
education.
