The need to increase student attendance in Central Texas schools was the focus of a rally on Sept. 3 at the Long Center for Performing Arts organized by local nonprofit E3 Alliance.
Austin ISD Interim Superintendent Paul Cruz was among the educators, school board members and members of the local business community who came together for the rally.
"That's a great thing about Austin, that we're all focused on one outcome: making sure that all kids learn and succeed. We know we can do it. We can't do it alone," Cruz said.
The goal of E3's Missing School Matters campaign is to increase attendance by three days per student per year to improve academic outcomes and to increase the amount of funding going to Central Texas schools, President and Executive Director Susan Dawson said.
Schools receive funding from the state based on how many students attend school each day. When a student misses one day of class, the district loses about $40, according to E3.
AISD implemented its Every Day Counts campaign and has worked for the past few years with E3 on Missing School Matters and seen positive results, Cruz said.
"We have in Austin ISD the highest graduation rates we've ever seen," he said.
At the rally, Bobby Jenkins of ABC Home & Commercial Services said accomplishing the three days goal would bring about $34 million in revenues back to local school districts.
"We can do this as a community," Jenkins said.
E3 asked attendees to tweet photos of on-site Yellow Cab vehicles with with the accompanying "#curbabsences" slogan and gave prizes to participants as part of a random drawing. Cruz and the other speakers encouraged everyone to spread the word about the importance of getting students in the classroom.
Past and present University of Texas football players Kasey Studdard and Case McCoy teamed up to lead a chant of the phrase "Miss school, miss out" at the rally.
"This is one of those causes where Aggies and Longhorns can all come together," Jenkins said.
More information about the campaign is available at www.e3alliance.org.
