Attendance Success at Waterboro Elementary School in York County
A Testimonial From Angela Madigan, RSU 57 Waterboro Elementary Principal & Student Case Studies
“A GAME CHANGER”
The partnership between Count ME In and Waterboro Elementary School has been a game changer in so many of our students' lives. Starting with building a strong, positive relationship with families, Count ME In has provided Waterboro with the tools, framework, and protocols to successfully identify needs and devise solutions to barriers for school attendance.
We have seen firsthand that implementing these strategies has a direct positive impact on the lives of our kids – academically and in so many other ways. Attendance is so much more than just being present. Improving attendance also improves our students’ feeling of confidence and belonging.
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"A CATALYST"
It seems so obvious now, but at the time we implemented Count ME In, there was pushback from the staff. As soon as they saw the impact, they were immediately on board, and we haven’t looked back. It is part of our culture now.
I can’t overstate the importance of Count ME In. The support, system and structure are not there for any of this work to happen in our schools on its own. It was not our standard practice. Change is extremely hard in school settings and this change required a catalyst.
Susan and Count ME In were that spark, and the ongoing support, tools and resources provided by the program have been critical to our success.
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"A STRONGER COMMUNITY"
In some ways, because of the pandemic, the needs of families are greater now than ever. Because of the work we did in prior years to build these connections, these families do not hesitate now to reach out to us when they are in need of support. We even have families move here because they’ve heard good things about the school and the help they can receive. The community supports the school in return. And we’ve built a stronger community.
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“SO MUCH MORE THAN ATTENDANCE”
Count ME In has a direct impact on so much more than attendance. Attending school means these families have direct access to school health services, clothing closets and drives, school meals, community resource referrals and so much more.
—Angela Madigan, RSU 57 Waterboro Elementary Principal
Examples of Attendance Success at Waterboro Elementary ↓
Student A: Grade 1
- Days Missed (2019 as of 4/1/2018): 14
- Days Missed (2020 as of 4/1/2019): 8
- Additional Hours of Instruction: 37.5
Progress
- +29 points on NWEA Math
- +31 points on NWEA Reading
- +6 levels in Reading (DRA-F&P)
Student B: Grade 2
- Days Missed (2019 as of 4/1/2018): 14
- Days Missed (2020 as of 4/1/2019): 4
- Additional Hours of Instruction: 65
Progress
- +12 points on NWEA Math
- +15 points on NWEA Reading
- +3 levels in Reading (DRA-F&P)
Student C: Grade 3
- Days Tardy (2019 as of 4/1/2018): 100
- Days Tardy (2020 as of 4/1/2019): 37
- Additional Hours of Instruction: 16
Progress
- +12 points on NWEA Math
- +16 points on NWEA Reading
- +4 levels in Reading (DRA-F&P)
Student D: Grade 5
- Days Missed (2019 as of 4/1/2018): 22
- Days Missed (2020 as of 4/1/2019): 11
- Additional Hours of Instruction: 69
Progress
- +9 points on NWEA Math
- +7 points on NWEA Reading
- Assignments now completed on time, work quality increased dramatically, and now one of the strongest reading response writers in the class