One major issue that schools are currently facing and seeing little or no improvement
with is effectively dealing with student absenteeism and truancy. Despite early interventions,
programs are still failing to effectively motivate students to attend school.
This research study examines the success of an implementation of a perfect
attendance award within an elementary school to increase student attendance. An
examination of student attendance from the 2006-2007 academic year and from the 2007-
2008 academic year, suggested that the perfect attendance certificate distributed monthly to
students with no absences for that month is a positive motivator for students to attend school
every day. The data from the months of September, October and November in the 2006-2007
year had a mean score of 54.5 and the 2007-2008 year had a mean score of 59.5, which
indicated from an Independent Samples Test that the data proves to be statistically
significant, thus the certificates accounted for increased attendance rates.
Follow up surveys also provide evidence that the attendance certificates are an overall
positive motivator for students and help to increase student attendance at one elementary
school. Recognizing student’s strengths of attending school every day is a powerful tool of
empowerment, and reduces absenteeism.