Pathways to Engagement: Covid-19 Recovery Through Attendance

Step 4: Reflect, Learn and Apply

After each phase of work (spring, summer and fall), step back and take stock of what your team accomplished and gather insights into how the work could be strengthened immediately as well as over time.

Designate two or three people to take the lead in analyzing your impact and documenting lessons learned. These leaders can also determine who should be involved in this reflection process.

This analysis and reflection group can determine how to best gather quantitative data (numbers of students and families involved, any data on outcomes such as enrollment, participation and chronic absence), and qualitative data (surveys or interviews with students, families, school staff, expanded learning staff, mentors and other community partners). This data can be used to examine the following questions:

Questions to help you examine your data

  • What did we do? Did we carry out what we planned to do? How much of our plan did we complete? Who helped to carry it out?

  • How well did we implement the activities? Were activities seen as helpful and effective? Did we engage the students, families, staff or community partners in the process? Which students are still missing?

  • What difference did we make for the students who received support? Did their outcomes for attendance, engagement or academic achievement change or improve? Did differences vary by student group?

  • What was the impact on the school as a whole? Has the enrollment, attendance or chronic absence data changed in any way? Have these activities provided benefits or created unexpected challenges for the school community in general?

Based on the data gathered, the analysis team could compile an initial analysis that is reviewed and discussed by a larger group of stakeholders, including people representing various perspectives from within the school community, such as students, families and key community partners.

Once the group has had a chance to develop a shared picture of what has happened during this phase, they can consider: What is essential to maintain, expand or revise especially for the next phase of work?

Possible issues to explore include

  • Where have we seen the greatest improvements in attendance and engagement?

  • What were the short- and long-term unintended consequences, positive and negative, of past attendance interventions?

  • Which activities do we want to continue?

  • Which activities do we want to modify?

Finally, be sure to celebrate improvements in attendance and engagement! Thank your team and encourage them to take what works and build upon it.

Explore Pathways to Engagement: A Toolkit for Covid-19 Recovery Through Attendance