Research Zone: Big Attendance Wins for DC Public Schools & DC Public Charter Schools
On a mission to accelerate learning and transform student outcomes, DC Public Schools and participating DC Public Charter Schools have focused on reducing elevated chronic absenteeism rates through numerous initiatives. A critical piece of this strategy has been partnering with EveryDay Labs to send chronic absenteeism mail & text nudges on the district’s behalf. The exciting results of a randomized controlled trial conducted in Fall/Winter 2024 are in: chronic absenteeism rates were reduced by 6.3% amongst the students who received chronic absenteeism nudges.
Chronic absenteeism nudges were just one tool in DC’s chronic absenteeism toolbox, but they were one of the most cost effective ways for the district to reduce absenteeism. When looking at the days recovered from this program alongside other evidence-based interventions, the nudges, projected to recover a total of 20,385 days throughout the year, are 21 times more cost effective in reducing absenteeism compared to mentoring, and 52 times more cost effective in reducing absenteeism compared to tutoring.
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You can view the full details of the randomized controlled trial and the results here.
Chronic absenteeism has been a challenge for many districts nationwide, with DC Public Schools and DC Public Charter Schools being no exception. But with the right tools and partnerships, the district has shown that change is possible. “It is wonderful that we can both husband DC’s resources and serve its children and families so effectively. I am very grateful for our partnership with Everyday Labs.” shared Abdu’l-Karim Ewing-Boyd, Director of Strategic Initiatives, PK-12 in the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education.
EveryDay Labs is proud to be a trusted and cost-effective partner to DC Public Schools and DC Charter Schools. “Educators have more on their plates than ever before, and we are honored to support the difficult but important work of bringing more students back to school for critical learning opportunities,” says Emily Bailard, CEO at EveryDay Labs.
If you are interested in bringing cost-effective, evidence-backed practices to your district, and even researching the impact together, reach out today!
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Facing elevated chronic absenteeism rates post-pandemic, the team needed a more efficient way to deliver excellent communications and meaningful touchpoints to their school community, all while meeting the myriad other demands of the Front Office. Read on to discover how the Alpha team shifted from sending DIY nudges to bringing a trusted partner on board to increase staff capacity and improve attendance.
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