Norfolk Public Schools’ Third School-to-School Attendance Challenge Encourages Students Not To Miss Out – WHRO

School-to-School Attendance Challenge in Norfolk Public Schools

Students in Norfolk Public Schools are participating in the “School-to-School Attendance Challenge” campaign to promote regular school attendance and raise awareness about chronic absenteeism and its impact on student outcomes. The campaign, which started during the 2022-23 school year, aims to engage students and emphasize the importance of attending school consistently.

Emphasizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

1. Goal 4: Quality Education
2. Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
3. Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The campaign’s message is simple: If you miss school, you miss out! The challenge began at Booker T. Washington High School on Oct. 14, where “The Mighty Bookers” paraded the symbolic attendance flag to Richard Bowling Elementary School for the hand-off. Each week, the flag is passed on to a different school, creating an element of surprise and anticipation.

Chronic absenteeism, defined by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) as missing 10% or more of the academic year for any reason, can have significant negative effects on academic achievement. This includes difficulties in learning to read by the third grade and increased dropout rates. It is also linked to poor outcomes later in life.

Norfolk Public Schools photo by Byron Pollard. 

Superintendent Dr. Sharon I. Byrdsong stated, “This attendance campaign brings an element of fun and friendly competition to support our schools and students as we try to help remove barriers to daily, punctual school attendance.” The school division has implemented policies and practices to address truancy and chronic absenteeism, but they recognize the need for a collaborative approach involving students’ families and the community.

Schools have the freedom to be creative with the challenge, with past approaches including principals and teachers being “pied” with whipped cream and dunked into dunking booths, as well as student-created chants, songs, and raps to raise awareness.

As a result of the division’s efforts, the chronic absenteeism rate has decreased from 23.4% in the 2022-23 school year to 18.1% in the 2024-25 school year.

Dr. Byrdsong emphasized, “Ultimately, we want our scholars to know that we sincerely want them to come to school, be ready to learn, and then go out into the world and do great things in life.”

Visit Norfolk Public Schools’s Facebook page to find out which school will receive the symbolic attendance flag next.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Sustainable Development Goal: Quality Education

• Target 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
• Indicator 4.1.1: Proportion of children and young people (a) in grades 2/3; (b) at the end of primary; and (c) at the end of lower secondary achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in (i) reading and (ii) mathematics, by sex.

2. Sustainable Development Goal: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by sex, age and persons with disabilities.

3. Sustainable Development Goal: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
• Indicator 3.7.1: Proportion of women of reproductive age (aged 15-49 years) who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods.

4. Sustainable Development Goal: Reduced Inequalities

• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.
• Indicator 10.3.1: Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law.

Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to the following SDGs:

• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s content, the specific targets under the identified SDGs are:

• Target 4.1: Ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
• Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
• Target 3.7: Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
• Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies, and practices and promoting appropriate legislation, policies, and action in this regard.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not explicitly mention any indicators. However, the following indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator 4.1.1: Proportion of children and young people achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in reading and mathematics.
• Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income.
• Indicator 3.7.1: Proportion of women of reproductive age who have their need for family planning satisfied with modern methods.
• Indicator 10.3.1: Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: whro.org