Attendance is Important for Student Success

By: Erika Foster, GCCISD Education Foundation Director

A missed school day is a missed opportunity to learn. If a student does not attend school on a regular basis, they are more likely to fall behind in their studies and more often than not, it is extremely difficult to catch up. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), “Teacher effectiveness is the strongest school-related determinant of student success, but chronic student absence reduces even the best teacher’s ability to provide learning opportunities.”

The district has seen an increase in student absences this school year. GCCISD Superintendent, Dr. Randal O’Brien, is working diligently with campus principals, teachers, Student Services, district leaders and GCCISD Police to identify students that have missed an excessive number of days and what we can do to encourage them to return to the classroom and finish out the year on a high note. The Education Foundation, along with the City of Baytown Parks and Recreation department, fully support the superintendent and district in their quest to reduce student absences. In an effort to increase student success through attendance, the Foundation and P&C department are offering a free ticket to Pirate’s Bay Water Park to any Goose Creek CISD student that has perfect attendance during the last nine weeks of school. “I’m a Goose Creek graduate and I understand the importance of going to school every day,” Erika Foster, GCCISD Education Foundation Director stated. “That is why we are so thankful for the partnership with Jenna Stevenson, Aquatics Superintendent and City of Baytown Parks & Rec department. They believe in the vision for our district and the city and they want to do whatever it takes to ensure our students get the type of education they deserve.”

Students that finish the last nine weeks with perfect attendance will be contacted at the end of the school year to receive their ticket.

Photo by Carrie Pryor-Newman