Whilst Truancy Call has reduced our unauthorised absences, by approximately two thirds, it has also contributed to our schools efficiency in our Administration area.
Teachers are now more accurate in the marking of rolls.
Teachers are ensuring they supply the admin with a student excursion list before the excursion (we used to have to chase up teachers for this list and sometimes it took a couple of days) We implemented a system whereby the Teachers who do not supply a list are responsible for telephoning the parents of the students involved in the excursion, to apologise for receiving a truancy phone call.
Major reduction in time by Administrative Officer chasing up unauthorised absences - previous to Truancy Call we would have had at least a half a day to a full day per week spread over the school campus (we have four mini-schools with Admin attached to each) to chase up unauthorised absences. Now it is done daily taking approximately 5 mins per day to complete any followups.
Parents are now telephoning daily advising of absences before Truancy Call is sent out.
Victorian students are skipping class in state schools at an increasing rate, according to a report tabled today in the state parliament.
The auditor-general's report on student absenteeism found the average number of days of absence per student had climbed steadily between 1996 and 2002, with an overall increase of 16.6 per cent.
However, the report also found the rate of growth of primary school absences was double that of secondary schools.
The report found schools were putting considerable effort into addressing absenteeism.
The report urged schools to develop better follow-up procedures for unexplained and unapproved absences, as well as improving the overall information about absences.
Auditor-General Wayne Cameron said "timely follow-up" was an important way to prevent further absenteeism.
In one school that used a telephone text message (SMS) system to alert parents when absences weren't explained by 10am, such absences fell by 80 per cent.
On average, 26 per cent of all student absences between January and September 2004 in state schools remained unexplained.
Public schools are using text messages to tell parents when their children skip school, with early results showing significant reductions in truancy.
In a bid to improve the state's 92 per cent school attendance rate, four high schools have in the past month switched to computer technology that automatically informs parents by mobile phone text message when students are absent from school.
Text messages are used extensively in South Australian government schools where absentee rates have been slashed by at least 50 per cent.
By Linda Doherty, Education Editor, Sydney Morning Herald, May 22, 2004
Just went through my Yr 10 absences for this term for Fisher.
Out of 82 students, 18 had one absent day unexplained, 9 had two absent days unexplained and 1 had three absent days unexplained. Leaving 54 with no unexplained absences. (The best I have seen in 6 terms by far)
Mrs Janelle Byrne, Teachers Aide, Fisher Mini School, Gympie State High School, QLD