Attendance matters. In addition to being a factor in funding, it is also a major factor in student success. Studies have shown that “high attenders,” or students who attended their after-school programs (including summer sessions) nearly every day, gain more math, language arts, and social-emotional skills than 75-80 percent of their peers. Students who regularly attend their after-school programs are likely to experience the following benefits:

• Better academic performance: students with higher daily attendance rates are more likely to stay caught up on their homework, having a positive impact on their overall grades and performance.  
• Higher graduation rates: with better academic performance comes lower dropout rates, leading to higher graduation rates.
• Improved health and safety: many agree that the hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are the times when young people tend to get into the most trouble when left unsupervised. Children who regularly attend an after-school program are less likely engage in risky behaviors and thus less likely to come into contact with the criminal justice system.

No matter where your program stands today, it is possible to improve attendance with the following tips.

Offer choices

As we all know, different students have different interests. Requiring all program participants to attend the same activities not only hinders their opportunity to explore different areas, but it can also be difficult or boring for those who do not wish to participate in certain activities. For example, students who excel in math may not benefit from a required math tutoring session, but may enjoy and appreciate an art-based activity. Understanding the limitations of funding and staff, while doing your best to provide options for students, will likely help keep their interest and keep them coming back every day.

Reach out

Engaging parents in their children’s academic career is a good way to keep student attendance high. However, if a student has missed 10 percent or more of his or her after-school program days, it may be time to reach out to parents and find out why. Keeping parents engaged and informed, even in a volunteer capacity, may help increase daily attendance rates.

Provide incentives for students

Children, especially younger ones, respond well to being rewarded for their work. Try offering a small token or prize at the end of every week to students who attend every day and/or behave well. This can help motivate children to come to the program every day, especially when there are times of the year when attendance typically drops.

Hire a solid staff

Ensuring a higher daily attendance rate often requires maintaining a well-run program. This is more achievable when after-school programs have a solid group of paid or volunteer staff members that engage with students and contribute to the program’s overall appeal and success. A program director or coordinator can help implement strategies to keep programs running smoothly. Higher attendance is often a by-product of a well-run program.

Let students rest

Students spend all day learning. When they finish the school day, one of the last things they are likely to want to do is jump right back into learning some more. Giving them time to relax, unwind, and have a snack, helps them reset and be ready for the fun and exciting activities planned for them. 

Maximizing your daily attendance rate takes work, but it is always worth it. If you are looking for a better way to track attendance and student performance, an after-school program software can be an invaluable tool. To learn more and find out how to better manage data for your after-school program, visit our website.