Taking a strengths-based approach, individual educators can make a difference in the lives of students at risk of chronic absenteeism. There are so many protective factors that educators can control and influence in order to improve student attendance and engagement.

Restorative suggestions:

1. Reflect on your practice regularly using the restorative questions.
2. Adults who are firm and fair give students structure and support to attend school.
3. Ask questions to parents that build up strengths rather than blame parents.

Checklist of Attendance Protective Factors

Some of the protective factors that can mitigate and address absenteeism:

(Adapted from CHECK & CONNECT Protective Factors associated with school dropout, Regents of University of Minnesota, 2017)

student completes homework

student comes to class prepared

student has high locus of control

student has good self-concept

student has expectations for school completion

family- academic support for learning(e.g. help with homework)

family - motivational support for learning(e.g. high expectations for learning)

family - availability of educational resources

family - parental monitoring

school - orderly school environment

school - committed, caring teachers

school - fair discipline policies

school - relationship with one caring adult

school - opportunities for participation

Order Steve’s book The Restorative Principal Leading in Education with Restorative Practices

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