Juvenile Justice & Youth Development
Programs & Grants
School Attendance
The school attendance funding category supports school initiatives aimed at improving school attendance and helping Families With Service Needs (FWSN). The focus is to provide children with positive reinforcement that promotes school attendance rather than emphasizing the need to reduce truancy, suspension and expulsion.
Since 2001, the primary activities related to school attendance have been through the Connecticut Consortium on School Attendance (the Consortium). The focus of this group is on the use of data-driven program planning to improve student attendance. In 2008, the consortium published a report entitled Student Attendance Data: Key Findings, which describes key measures of attendance and shows Consortium-wide attendance results for the 2006/2007 school year. The Consortium also published its Recommendations for Improving School Attendance in Connecticut in 2008, which outlines six recommendations for improving attendance that target local school districts, the State Department of Education, and the Connecticut Consortium on School Attendance.
A list of awards for the school attendance category and additional school attendance links are provided below. Follow this link for information on Joining the Connecticut Consortium on School Attendance.
Connecticut Consortium on School Attendance
The Connecticut Consortium on School Attendance is a multi-year, collaborative effort of local school districts and statewide agencies focused on improving school attendance in Connecticut. The JJAC’s focus on school attendance is based on the belief that school gives young people positive experiences and provides an environment where they can develop the skills and attitudes they need to become productive, law-abiding citizens. Experts agree that the most effective truancy and delinquency prevention programs promote positive youth development rather than focus solely on prevention and reduction of problem behaviors. The JJAC’s goal is to help schools and communities address school attendance before it becomes truancy. In 2001, the JJAC formed the Connecticut Consortium on School Attendance with this purpose in mind.
From 2001 through 2004, Consortium membership consisted of program and technology representatives from nine school districts and representatives of statewide agencies concerned with education, child welfare, and juvenile justice (the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents, the Connecticut Association of Schools, the Connecticut Consortium for Law & Citizenship Education, the Connecticut State Department of Education, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, the Connecticut Judicial Branch, the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, and the Office of Policy and Management). During this time, Consortium members worked together to examine existing policies concerning attendance and collection of attendance data; explore technological enhancements for collecting, analyzing, and reporting information on attendance; and identify promising practices for improving student attendance. The Consortium expanded its membership and as of November 2016 includes 29 school districts--Ansonia, Bethel, Bridgeport, Canterbury, Derby, East Hartford, Enfield, Fairfield, Griswold, Hamden, Hartford, Killingly, Manchester, Middletown, Milford, New Britain, New Haven, New Milford, Norwich, Norwich Free Academy, Plainfield, Regional School District #10, Southington, Stonington, Stratford, Vernon, Waterbury, Waterford, Windham.
Please visit the Publications page for additional information about the Consortium, its latest conference proceedings, its recommendations for state and local policy change, and its findings on how to improve school attendance.
Joining the Consortium on School Attendance
The JJAC seeks to expand school district membership in the Consortium to increase the number of school districts that contribute data to the Consortium-wide attendance database and participate in Consortium meetings and activities. To join, school districts must meet Consortium application requirements by sending an application letter to the Office of Policy and Management and submitting student-level attendance and demographic data to the Consortium data consultant for Consortium analysis. School districts must complete the membership application process to be eligible for JJAC funding for the following school year. Please download the School District Membership Application below for more information about the benefits of Consortium membership and the application process.
The membership application is in a Microsoft Word document. If you do not have Microsoft Word, click viewers for a small freeware application. If you are unable to use this format, please contact our office.
School District Membership Application (3 pages; 49 KB)
Funding Opportunities for FY 2017/2018
The Office of Policy and Management (OPM) and its Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee (JJAC) expect to announce funding for 2017/2018 by January 2017.
Download the attached files to view information on grant recipients, award amounts and programs funded. Documents are in Microsoft Word format. If you are unable to use Microsoft Word or viewers, please contact our office.
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2016/2017
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2015/2016
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2014/2015
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2013/2014
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2012/2013
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2011/2012
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2010/2011
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2009/2010 School Attendance Awards for FY 2008/2009
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2007/2008
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2006/2007
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2005/2006
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2004/2005
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2003/2004
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2002/2003
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2001/2002
- School Attendance Awards for FY 2000/2001
School Attendance Links
Connecticut School Attendance Links:
- Connecticut Association of Boards of Education - A membership organization focused on improving the quality of education throughout the state and the nation through advocacy, support, and professional development. (www.cabe.org)
- Connecticut Association of Schools - A non-profit educational organization working to strengthen elementary and secondary education in Connecticut. Provides publications and information for parents and educators on topics such as student transitions between schools and school connectedness. (www.casciac.org)
- Connecticut State Department of Education - Official web site of the State Department of Education. (www.ct.gov/sde)
- Kids Counsel: Center for Children's Advocacy - Provides legal advocacy, legal references, placement information, and links to resources in Connecticut and nationally. A center of the University of Connecticut School of Law. (www.kidscounsel.org)
National School Attendance Links:
- National Alternative Education Association - An all volunteer organization dedicated to information sharing, best practice and advocacy for alternative learning and teaching. (www.the-naea.org)
- Truancy Prevention – A resource center providing training and technical assistance, research and resources on the subject of school engagement and truancy prevention. An initiative of the Colorado Foundation for Families and Children. (www.truancyprevention.org)
- U.S. Department of Education - Provides school attendance and truancy prevention information. Special section on chronic non-attendance can be found here. (www.ed.gov)