Buffalo Schools Hope Cash Lottery Will Help With Student Attendance

As we inch our way through the school year, districts all over the Empire State are seeking ways to make school campuses places that students want to be. Given all of the things that exist in modern society that grab our attention, it's quite understandable that it's becoming more difficult to get students in the classroom ready to learn for 180 days every year.

According to data from the New York State School Boards Association, at least one-third of high school students in the Empire State are chronically absent. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing at least 10%, 18 or more days, of the school year. In Buffalo, that figure is much worse.

Current attendance data from the Buffalo Public Schools show that, while overall daily attendance ranks around 77%, high school attendance is frankly terrible.

A majority of the city's high schools are dealing with a serious chronic absenteeism issue, with several schools having more than 50% of their population chronically absent.

Buffalo Schools Have New Attendance Incentive Program

To help combat that, and hopefully to give students another incentive to attend school regularly, the BPS is unveiling a new program that literally puts money where their mouth is.

In partnership with Say Yes Buffalo, the BPS is launching a new Student Attendance Lottery program that will award three students a total of $1,000 monthly if they meet certain attendance goals.

Starting in February, every student who misses one day or less every month will be entered into a drawing to win cash prizes. The three students, who would be drawn randomly, could win $500, $300, or $200, depending on where they fall in the lottery. Students who qualify are automatically entered into the contest, so the only thing your kids need to do is go to school.

This attendance lottery is a positive and engaging way to incentivize students to show up every day, stay committed to their education, and build good habits that will serve them well throughout their lives.
-Pascal Mubenga, Superentendent of the Buffalo Public Schools

We'll share more about this program as it becomes available. What do you think about it? Is this a good idea to increase attendance?

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