Washington schools emphasize routine-building in first days back

WASHINGTON — As students, teachers and staff return to classrooms this year, Washington administrators say they’re urging families to establish consistent routines.

It’s the latest move in a districtwide effort to combat chronic absenteeism, as nationally collected data shows one in four Iowa students miss at least 10% of the school year. Superintendent Willie Stone said the early-year push would be especially important.

“These first two, three weeks, it’s important to establish that routine and that expectation that you’re getting up, you’re going to school,” he said. “It’s what they have to do to remain successful for the remainder of their life … once you get kids in routines and you establish that this is what’s expected, and you hold that line, then typically they fall in line after that.”

Habits like getting to bed on time, getting breakfast and getting out the door every morning are especially important for younger students, according to Stone.

That’s both because habit-building starts early, and because elementary school days teach skills that represent building blocks to the rest of their academic careers.

“Kindergarten, first and second, they’re learning how to read,” he said. “Every day they miss class is a day they’re missing an opportunity to learn how to read. That’s a lifelong skill that you have to be able to learn how to do … once you’ve learned to read, you can kind of figure things out after that, but if you haven’t learned how to read the right way, at the right time, it really puts you behind the eight ball.”

The school district implemented chronic absenteeism “task forces” at each building this year, composed of administrators, counselors and teachers. Members of each team will meet with chronically absent students when they’re in school and reach out when they’re not, Stone said, and would help connect students with whatever they need to get them to class more regularly.

Iowa’s laws have also changed this year, with a new statewide bill mandating Individualized Education Programs once a student misses 10% of the school year’s classes, and requires coordination with the county attorney to enforce truancy rules. The legislation also allows districts to revoke open enrollment for students who are chronically absent.

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com