September marks Attendance Awareness Month, and fittingly, CIS of Chicago CEO Jane Mentzinger had the opportunity to talk with WBBM Newsradio’s Rob Hart about attendance during their At Issue program.
Rob and Jane spoke about how chronic absenteeism for Chicago public-school students has increased – and persisted – since the pandemic and how CIS is working student by student, school by school, to ensure that students have the resources they need to come to school. Here were some highlights from their discussion:
- The reasons for chronic absenteeism are complex, from transportation to mental health challenges to grief and loss, but attendance is essential to young people’s success.
- Our students – and the teachers and school communities who support them – are driven and talented. CIS’ team empowers them with access to resources and support to help them reach their goals.
- Any adult can help build a positive relationship with students. It all starts with listening, learning, and staying curious.
