esents a parent involvement program designed to remedy the problem by significantly increasing student attendance of Thomas Jefferson High School's ninth grade class during the 1996-1997 school term. It is expected that when compared to the number of absences for the 1996-1997 school term, the absence rate will show a significant decrease. It is further expected that as a result of this decrease in school absence, the average numbers of class failures and suspensions for the term will also show significant decreases; this because of the positive, linear relationship between suspension rates and class failures with school absences in the existing literature (Rohrman, 1993).
Thomas Jefferson High School, the setting evidencing the problem and the setting where the solution strategies will be implemented, is located in Tampa, Florida. The school has a relatively diverse student population of different ethnic backgrounds. It is the ninth largest high school of the 15 schools in Hillsborough Country. The school building itself is staffed with over 120 employees including a faculty of 101 teachers, six administrators and over ten support personnel.
Itinerant service is also provided; these services are offered once a week by the school social worker, nurse and psychologist. ESE classes are also available for emotionally handicapped students (EH), students with specific learning disabilities (SLD), severely emotionally handicapped students (SED), trainable mentally handicapped students (TMH), and students with physical impairments (PI). More than 89 percent of Thomas Jefferson High School students receive free or reduced priced meals.
The researcher works as an assistant principal at the school; the assistancy carries with it responsibility for enforcement of attendance policies. At present the methods used by school staff to directly involve parents in relation to school absences is: a) to communicate attendance informat...