Schools focus on keeping kids in class

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Community and education leaders in central Texas are joining forces today in an effort to keep more kids from skipping class.

A region-wide campaign called "Missing School Matters" is aimed at increasing school attendance among students in eight districts in our area. The mission is simple: get more kids in central Texas to miss less days of school each year.

Austin Area Research Organization, together with E3 Alliance is inviting employers, associations and community groups to help spread the word that missing school matters during three communitywide kickoff events across Austin.

E3 Alliance says grades K through 12 in central Texas have the worst attendance of all regions in the state.

Officials say while missing class hurts the students' achievement, it's also a financial burden to school districts. Schools receive funding based on attendance, and every day a student misses costs schools in central Texas.

"We've calculated at E3 alliance that if we were able to increase attendance on average by just three days per student, that it would gain our region $34 million a year," says Susan Dawson, the president of E3 Alliance.

"Missing School Matters" Campaign kickoff events include:

• Results of a new national survey of teens that explores why kids miss school.
• An overview of the Get Schooled Central Texas Fall Attendance Challenge.
• A targeted campaign with "substance and sizzle" to get 40,000 central Texas middle and junior high school students aware of the importance of going to class.  
• A preview of a new Ad Council and U.S. Army's new BoostUp High School Dropout Prevention PSAs, launching mid-October, making parents aware of the connection between their student's attendance and educational outcomes.
• Access to a promotional tool kit with messages, flyers, articles and more to help spread the word about keeping kids in school.
• An interactive, table-top brainstorm session for participants to give feedback no how to spread the word that missing school matters.

Event schedule

Kickoff Event Two

• Thursday
•  4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
•  Dell Round Rock Campus, Building 8

 Kickoff Event Three

• Tuesday
• 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• LCRA Dalchau Service Center, Montopolis Drive

Registration is required, and you can do that online.