Charleston Elementary School Launches “Steal the Show” Program to Boost Attendance with Exciting Rewards
Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary Offers Prizes and “Lunch with the Mayor” to Encourage School Attendance
According to West Virginia Watch, Mary C. Snow West Side Elementary School in Charleston, West Virginia, has started a new program to improve student attendance. In a program called “Steal the Show, Eight or Below,” kids who miss no more than eight days of school this year will get points.
Certain lunches, limo rides, movie tickets, and $100 for the eight kids with the best attendance are up for grabs. This is part of a bigger plan to deal with chronic absences, which affect a lot of West Virginia kids.
Principal Destiny Spencer told kids that going to school every day is important because it helps them do well and get ready for the future. A pep rally was held outside to start the program, and Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin also offered a monthly “lunch with the mayor” for kids who do well in school.
West Virginia Education Department Tests New Attendance Program at Mary C. Snow Elementary, Potential Expansion Across State
The West Virginia Department of Education picked Mary C. Snow to test this program, which gave the school the chance to make it fit their needs. The idea could be used in other schools across the state if it works. New state rules also try to lower absenteeism by making it harder to miss school without a good reason and making schools contact parents more quickly.