July 11, 2023 -- The first step for students to improve success in the classroom is as simple as showing up on time every day and being ready to learn. This message was a prominent fixture throughout the 2022-2023 school year as part of the Columbus City Schools’ “Stay in the Game!” attendance initiative and its partnership with Attendance Works, a national organization leading the charge to help districts and students overcome barriers impacting attendance and educational inequities.
Last year, the District joined a statewide network of fellow school districts working to reduce Ohio’s chronic absenteeism rate by half over the next decade. Thanks to unique family engagement strategies, attendance-themed student celebrations, and a historic partnership with the Columbus Crew, CCS is already seeing promising results in keeping students in the game.
During the 2022-2023 school year, the District saw:
- Improved daily student attendance across all six regions;
- 95% of schools reduced chronic absenteeism rates;
- 7.2% reduction in chronic absenteeism; and
- 29% reduction in student truancy.
To learn more about the District’s Stay in the Game! initiative and work to address student attendance, visit www.ccsoh.us/stayinthegame.
