Are you looking for ways to help students lower their unexcused absences? If so, keep reading.

1. Set a time for the learner to leave their home in the morning.

2. Require that time spent away from class/school be made up at recess, during lunch, or after school.

3. Make sure the learner is properly placed according to capacity and ability level in those classes in which they are enrolled (e.g., the class is not too complicated; the class is not too easy).

4. Minimize the emphasis on competition. Repeated failure may cause the learner to be absent to avoid competitive situations.

5. Assist the learner in creating friendships that may encourage their attendance in school/class.

6. Provide open communication with the learner’s family to make sure that the learner is leaving for school at the designated time.

7. Do not force the learner to interact with others or do things that make them feel awkward and cause the learner to want to be absent.

8. Make sure the learner and parents are aware of the laws involving attendance in school.

9. Connect with the parents(e.g., notes home, phone calls, etc.) to disseminate information about the learner’s progress. The parents may reinforce the learner at home for school attendance.

10. Draft an agreement with the learner stipulating what behavior is required (e .g., being in attendance) and which reinforcement will be implemented when the agreement has been met.

11. Praise those students who attend school/class.

12. Praise the learner for coming to school/class or arriving at a learning experience at a specific time: (a) give the learner a concrete reward (e.g., privileges such as leading the line, handing out learning materials, 10 minutes of free time, etc.) or (b) give the learner an informal reward (e.g., praise, handshake, smile, etc.).

13. Create classroom rules: • Complete every assignment. • Complete assignments quietly. • Remain in your seat. • Finish tasks. • Meet task expectations. Examine rules often. Praise students for following the rules.

14. Talk with the learner to explain(a) what the learner is doing wrong (e.g., being absent from school/class and (b) what the learner should be doing (e.g., being in attendance).

15. Consider using a classroom management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

16. Consider using an adaptive behavior management app. Click here to view a list of apps that we recommend.

17. Consider using Alexa to help the student learn to behave appropriately. Click here to read an article that we wrote on the subject.

18. Click here to learn about six bonus strategies for challenging problem behaviors and mastering classroom management.