Title: Pittsburgh Public Schools Tackle Chronic Absenteeism with Innovative Strategies

Content:

Pittsburgh Public Schools are confronting the pervasive issue of chronic absenteeism, with a staggering 32% of students missing 18 or more days of school last year. To combat this, the organization A+ Schools is proactively engaging with families in the Arlington neighborhood, removing barriers to attendance. They're providing backpacks with school supplies to incoming kindergartners and going door-to-door offering assistance with transportation, food, or clothing.

Some city high schools, such as Westinghouse and Perry, have seen over half of their students chronically absent. This has dire academic consequences, with schools struggling with high absenteeism consistently performing poorly in math and reading, often ranking among the lowest in the state.

Pittsburgh Public Schools is tackling the problem head-on with a multi-faceted approach. While community partners like A+ have been working to get students to school, the district is introducing innovative strategies to keep them there. One such initiative is the adoption of a "house system" in an increasing number of schools, inspired by the model from Harry Potter. This fosters a sense of community and purpose, with houses earning points and rewards for academic achievement and attendance.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Melissa Pearlman reports that the house system is already yielding positive results, with students making better behavioral choices, disciplinary incidents decreasing, and a reduced likelihood of engaging in negative activities that don't align with their house and community.

Outreach efforts have also shown promise, with a 15% reduction in absenteeism since the end of the pandemic. A+ attributes some of this success to their texting and email campaign targeting the parents or guardians of chronically absent students, offering support in getting them back to class.

While progress is being made, district attendance still lags behind pre-pandemic levels. However, officials view this as a positive step in reconnecting with families and addressing the complex issue of chronic absenteeism.