IEP Attendance Goals For High School Students

Last Updated on May 15, 2024 by Editorial Team

Welcome to the world of high school, where the days are long, the homework is plenty, and the social drama never seems to end. In this fast-paced environment, it’s important for students to stay on top of their attendance to ensure they don’t fall behind.

However, we all know that getting teenagers out of bed in the morning can be a Herculean task, especially when they would rather binge-watch the latest Netflix series or scroll through social media all night.

The challenges for high school students with learning difficulties can be different and unique, that’s where the Individualized Education Program (IEP) comes in. For high school students with learning difficulties, the IEP is a legally mandated document that outlines their specific needs and accommodations. This includes attendance goals that are tailored to their individual circumstances. No matter what the reason, the attendance goals in the IEP are designed to help students succeed academically while also taking their unique challenges into consideration.

So, let’s dive into the world of IEP attendance goals for high school students and explore how they can help ensure success in the classroom and beyond.

Assessing attendance needs

Much like other IEP goals like Grammar, self-advocacy, and organization, Assessing attendance needs is a crucial step in developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for high school students. It requires a thorough understanding of each student’s individual circumstances, challenges, and needs in order to create effective attendance goals that will help them succeed academically and beyond.

To assess attendance needs, educators and other professionals must gather information from a variety of sources. This may include input from the student, their parents or guardians, medical professionals, and school staff. It’s important to take a holistic approach, considering physical, emotional, and environmental factors that may impact attendance.

For example, a student with a chronic illness may require accommodations such as a flexible attendance policy or homebound instruction. A student with a difficult home life may benefit from counseling services or transportation assistance. Meanwhile, a student who is simply struggling with the transition to high school may need additional support and encouragement to attend regularly.

By assessing attendance needs and developing tailored attendance goals, educators can help ensure that all high school students, regardless of their individual circumstances, have the opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential.

IEP attendance goals for high school students

  • The student will attend at least 95% of their scheduled classes in each quarter of the school year, as measured by teacher attendance records.
  • The student will participate in at least one school club or activity per semester and attend all scheduled meetings, as measured by attendance records.
  • The student will meet with their academic advisor once a month to review their academic progress and discuss post-secondary options, with progress documented in meeting notes.
  • The student will complete and turn in all assignments on time for each class, with progress tracked by grading reports in the school’s online portal.
  • The student will attend all scheduled IEP meetings and arrive on time, with attendance documented in meeting minutes.
  • The student will seek assistance from teachers or peers within two days of feeling behind in their coursework, with progress tracked by assignment submission dates.
  • The student will maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher throughout the school year, with progress tracked by quarterly report cards.
  • The student will attend all scheduled tutoring or after-school study sessions, with attendance documented by sign-in sheets or teacher reports.
  • The student will reduce their number of absences due to illness or personal reasons by 50% from the previous school year, with progress tracked by attendance records.
  • The student will participate in a mentoring program and attend all scheduled meetings, with attendance documented in meeting notes.
  • The student will demonstrate improved reading comprehension by increasing their reading level by two grade levels by the end of the school year, as measured by a standardized reading assessment.
  • The student will attend at least one college information session or career fair per semester, with attendance documented by sign-in sheets.
  • The student will complete all college applications and submit them by the specified deadlines, with progress tracked by application submission dates.
  • The student will maintain a positive attitude and behavior during IEP meetings, as evidenced by zero disciplinary referrals during meetings.
  • The student will collaborate with peers on group projects and complete all assignments on time, with progress tracked by assignment submission dates.
  • The student will participate in a community service project for at least 20 hours during the school year, with progress tracked by volunteer hour logs.
  • The student will attend at least one school-sponsored event per month to increase engagement and school spirit, with attendance documented by sign-in sheets.
  • The student will develop a long-term academic and career plan with their academic advisor by the end of the first semester, with progress documented in meeting notes.
  • The student will seek help from a counselor or therapist to address any mental health concerns that may affect attendance or academic performance, with progress tracked by the counselor/therapist meeting notes.
  • The student will maintain a regular sleep schedule and avoid excessive absences due to oversleeping, with progress tracked by attendance records.
  • The student will take breaks when feeling overwhelmed to avoid excessive absences, with progress tracked by attendance records.
  • The student will avoid distractions during class to remain engaged and attentive, with progress tracked by teacher reports or self-reflection logs.
  • The student will actively participate in class discussions and activities to improve social skills, with progress tracked by teacher reports or self-reflection logs.
  • The student will use a planner or digital calendar to keep track of assignments, due dates, and other important events, with progress tracked by the planner/calendar use.
  • The student will establish and maintain positive relationships with teachers and staff members, with progress tracked by teacher/staff feedback or self-reflection logs.
  • The student will attend at least one extracurricular activity per week to increase social engagement with peers, with attendance
IEP Goals For High School Students
IEP Goals For High School Students
IEP Goals For High School Students

Improving student attendance: Strategies for success

Student attendance is crucial to academic success. When students regularly attend school, they have the opportunity to engage in meaningful learning experiences and develop relationships with their peers and teachers.

However, some students may struggle with attendance for a variety of reasons, including illness, transportation issues, or lack of motivation. This can impact their academic performance and make it difficult to achieve their goals. Hence, here are some strategies that educators and families can use to promote student attendance and improve academic outcomes.

  1. Establish a positive school culture: A welcoming and supportive school environment can motivate students to attend school regularly.
  2. Communicate attendance expectations: Clear communication of attendance policies and expectations can help students understand the importance of regular attendance.
  3. Use attendance incentives: Offering rewards such as extra credit, prizes, or recognition for good attendance can motivate students to attend regularly.
  4. Provide transportation options: Lack of transportation can be a barrier to attendance for some students. Schools can provide transportation options such as bus passes, carpooling, or bike-sharing programs.
  5. Address health and wellness needs: Chronic health issues, mental health concerns, or lack of sleep can contribute to absenteeism. Schools can provide resources such as school-based health clinics, counseling services, and wellness programs to support students’ overall health and well-being.
  6. Use technology: Schools can use technology such as attendance tracking apps or text messaging systems to communicate with students and parents/guardians about attendance.
  7. Monitor attendance data: Regular monitoring and analysis of attendance data can help schools identify trends and develop targeted interventions to address attendance issues.
  8. Involve parents/guardians: Parents and guardians have important responsibilities in the life of a special needs child. Additionally, they can play a crucial role in promoting attendance. Schools can involve parents and guardians in attendance campaigns, provide regular communication about their child’s attendance, and work collaboratively to identify and address attendance barriers.
  9. Provide academic support: Students who are struggling academically may be more likely to miss school. Schools can provide academic support such as tutoring or after-school programs to help students stay on track.
  10. Foster positive relationships: Positive relationships with teachers, staff, and peers can motivate students to attend school and feel connected to their school community. Schools can promote positive relationships by creating opportunities for student engagement, such as clubs, sports, and other extracurricular activities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, attendance goals are an essential component of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for high school students with difficulties. Assessing attendance needs requires a holistic approach that takes into consideration the unique circumstances of each student. This may include input from the student, their parents or guardians, medical professionals, IEP Team members, and school staff.

By developing tailored attendance goals with the inclusion of self-regulation goals, educators can help students overcome their attendance challenges and succeed academically and beyond. Whether it’s due to a physical difficulty, mental health issue, difficult home life, or other circumstances, attendance goals can help ensure that students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

So, let’s continue to prioritize attendance needs assessment and tailored attendance goals as a way to support and empower high school students with difficulties. By doing so, we can help create a more inclusive and equitable education system for all.

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