Description
Pam from Northside ISD discussed their efforts toward attendance improvement by eliminating barriers. With 103,000 students, 11 specialists made 9,000 home visits. Attendance rose to 96.5% post-COVID. They focus on collaboration, community support, and addressing root causes like food insecurity. Their five-year plan emphasizes data-driven, proactive solutions, which align with tools like RaaWee K12 Attendance+ to streamline attendance management and intervention strategies.
Supportive and Collaborative Approaches to Barrier Elimination
Shifting away from punitive measures, Northside ISD focuses on engaging families and leveraging community barrier-specific resources for attendance improvement. Their 11 attendance specialists conducted over 9,000 home visits this year, working closely with McKinney-Vento and PTA programs to support homeless and foster youth.
Whole-Child Approach to Attendance Improvement
The district prioritizes students’ basic needs, addressing food insecurity, housing instability, and special education support before focusing on academics. Parent engagement initiatives, such as pre-K coffee days and educational forums, help families understand attendance laws and available resources to address chronic absenteeism.
Sustaining Attendance Growth with Data-Driven Strategies
Northside ISD leverages data to shape policies, track interventions, and drive campus-wide culture change. Their five-year plan focuses on continuous attendance improvement through collaboration, proactive strategies, and expanded partnerships. As the district refines its approach, innovative tools like RaaWee K12 Attendance+ could offer additional insights to enhance attendance monitoring and intervention efforts.
About the Presenter
Pam Gould is the Superintendent of Northside Independent School District (NISD) in Texas, with over 30 years of experience in education. She is recognized for her leadership and dedication to creating a positive learning environment.
Under her leadership, NISD has achieved notable advancements in academic performance and community engagement. Pam promotes innovative teaching practices and technology integration to enhance education.
Pam is committed to promoting equity and inclusivity, ensuring every student has access to necessary resources. She actively engages with community initiatives to strengthen connections between schools and families, making a lasting impact on NISD.
