Fewer students in the Bowling Green Independent School District and Warren County Public Schools were chronically absent this academic year after both districts made changes to their attendance policies.

“There’s so many direct correlations between student attendance and academic achievement,” said BGISD Director of Pupil Personnel D.G. Sherrill, who credited the drop in his district’s rate to greater mental health support services and an attendance policy change.

After implementing an attendance policy change that allowed fewer excused and unexcused absences, the district’s chronic absentee rate fell to 8.5 percent in the 2018-19 school year from 9.31 percent in 2017-18.

Jeff Moore, director of pupil personnel for Warren County schools, said his district saw a similar drop after both districts worked to adopt attendance policies that mirror each other. The chronic absentee rate for the county district fell from 11.2 percent last school year to 8.76 percent this year, he said.

The Kentucky Department of Education said the state defines chronic absenteeism as a student missing at least 10 percent of an academic year for any reason, excused or unexcused. Both districts adopted that definition, which equals missing at least 17 days out of the school year.

Under the attendance policy change in the BGISD that went into effect this school year, students were allowed five days of excused absences with parent notes and seven days with doctor’s notes each school year. Moore said WCPS has a similar policy.

The policy isn’t absolute, as BGISD works with students in special situations, such as having to miss class for physical therapy. The district also has a medical excuse form for extenuating circumstances, as does the county.

Previously, Sherrill said, parents could write 10 excuse notes and get 10 doctor’s notes, meaning “you could miss up to 20 days of school and it could be excused.”

Sherrill described parents’ reaction to the change as positive.

“The understanding that folks need to have is we’re just trying to have a little bit more accountability while still being reasonable,” Sherrill said.

Sherill said student chronic absenteeism is a regular topic of discussion among the state’s directors of pupil personnel, who help remove barriers to classroom learning for students.

Additionally, school districts are also being held more accountable for chronic absenteeism as it’s reported publicly through the state’s accountability system.

Another factor that Sherrill said is helping: greater access to mental health support services for students. This school year, the district hired two mental health counselors to work with students across its schools. Students can often carry trauma they experience outside school into the classroom, which can affect their grades or attendance.

With the addition of the counselors, who have seen more than 300 student referrals this school year, Sherrill said the district is able to provide student therapy in school or refer to providers in the community for help.

“I think it’s had a really significant impact on student attendance and student achievement,” he said.

– Follow education reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter @BGDN_edbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.