It’s no secret that schools struggle to track school attendance. Tracking attendance is a time-consuming process that can take away from instruction time. Additionally, schools are often required to track attendance for state accountability purposes.
So, what can be done to make attendance tracking more manageable and efficient?
Tracking School Attendance Online vs. In-Person
First, let’s go over the two main ways of tracking school attendance as well as their pros and cons.
Online Tracking
Pros
-Allows you to track attendance from anywhere
-Can be done automatically
-Can send reminders to students and parents
-Is more secure and less likely to be lost or stolen
Cons
-Will require an investment of time to set up
-Some students or parents may not have access to the internet
-May require an ongoing investment of time to maintain
-Can be subject to technical difficulties
In-Person Tracking
Pros
-Can be done quickly
-Does not require any special equipment
-Is less likely to be forgotten
-Can be done without internet access
Cons
-May be less accurate
-Is more likely to be lost or stolen
Remember these pros and cons as you decide which method of tracking school attendance will work best for your needs.
Time-Saving Tips for Attendance Taking
Next, here are five time-saving tips for taking attendance that can be used in conjunction with either online or in-person tracking methods.
#1: Keep a Master List of Students
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is essential to have a master list of all the students in your school, including their full names, grade levels, and homerooms. This list can be used to quickly check off students as they come into class or sign in for the day.
#2: Use Technology
If you are tracking attendance online, take advantage of technology to automate the process as much as possible. For example, you can set up automatic reminders to be sent to students or parents when attendance is taken.
#3: Simplify the Process
Don’t make attendance taking more complicated than it needs to be. If you are using an online system, make sure it is easy to use and understand. If you are taking in-person attendance, stick to a simple sign-in sheet.
In order to make sure your attendance-taking process is as easy as possible, it is important to use an online system that is easy to use and understand. If you are taking attendance in person, stick to a simple sign-in sheet that is easy to understand and use.
#4: Delegate Responsibilities
If you are struggling to keep up with attendance tracking on your own, delegate the responsibility to someone else. This could be a teacher’s assistant, office staff member, or even a parent volunteer. Older students can help too!
If you’re struggling to keep up with attendance tracking on your own, delegate the responsibility to someone else. This could be a teacher’s assistant, office staff member, or even a parent volunteer. Older students can help too! They can keep track of who’s been marked absent, help distribute notices to parents, and even enter attendance data into a computer system. Having someone else help with this administrative task will help you focus on teaching and other important tasks.
#5: Set Up a System
Finally, it is important to have a system in place for tracking attendance. This could be as simple as using a designated notebook or folder to store attendance records. Alternatively, you could set up a more complex system using an Excel spreadsheet or a Google Doc.
The bottom line is that attendance tracking doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Following the tips above can reduce time spent tracking attendance.
Combining a School Attendance Platform With Other School Administration Modules
Now that we have gone over some tips for tracking school attendance, let’s talk about how a school attendance platform can be used with other school administration modules.
A school attendance platform can track student attendance, tardiness, and absences. It can also generate reports, send reminders, and monitor trends. When used with a school administration module, a school attendance platform can be invaluable for tracking student attendance. The two systems can work together to provide a complete picture of a student’s attendance record.
For example, let’s say a student is absent from school. The school attendance platform will record the absence, and the school administration module will generate a report. The report will include the student’s name, the dates of the absence, and the reason for the absence. This information can then be used to follow up with the student and their family.
Tracking school attendance doesn’t have to be hard. By using a school attendance platform, you can make the process quick and easy. Use the tips above to make the most of your attendance tracking system!
SchoolCues is an all-in-one school management system for small schools with limited budgets and resources. Our solutions include admissions and enrollment, online payments, student information system, gradebook, communications, parent engagement, donations and fundraising, alumni management, and more. Schedule a demo with us today.
