Carpenter’s Attendance Improves, Suspensions Down

Last year, was pretty adamant about kids staying home if they are feeling even a little sick.

“I would call parents and encourage them to keep their children at home,” he said. “Especially if it meant that others would get sick.”

That policy may have backfired a bit, and hurt the attendance at —which also eventually affects the school’s funding. 

Martinez acted on an abundance of caution because of dangerous and contagious flu outbreaks in past years. So, the school’s Governance Council is planning to come up with a policy for parents and what symptoms or temperature they recommend that should keep children at home.

Schools try to keep the student’s attendance rate at 96 percent or higher—which means not missing more than seven days of school in a school year. The goal is to try to keep that percentage of attendance at 66 percent of the school population.

Carpenter hit 56 percent last year, and the Los Angeles Unified School District has a goal of 66 percent.

“We are very low and we need to improve that,” Martinez said. 

The school administrators have implemented an attendance incentive plan and will reward students (and teachers) for perfect and improved attendance.

In September the attendance rate was 82 percent and in October 84 percent. 

Meanwhile, the principal said he believes that some of the new policies of the Positive Reinforcement Committee has helped at school.

“Last year we had 17 suspensions all of last year, and so far this year we have had two,” Martinez said.

There is an anonymous Complaint Box on campus where anyone can suggest ideas or complaints and there are Popcorn Passes given to students when they do well.

Students are also given Cougar Coupons for good behavior and good deeds (like picking up trash around campus), and those coupons are redeemable at the school store.