Agenda Item
a. Renewal: Everyday Labs Attendance Intervention (Not to exceed $121,733)
Summary: Presented by: Kishia K. Towns, Ph.D., Chief of Wrap Around Services, Division of Wrap Around Services
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the renewal of the EveryDay Labs Attendance Intervention platform for an additional year for an amount not to exceed $121,733.
Why: EveryDay Labs Intervention is proven to reduce absenteeism among students from communities experiencing marginalization. Research shows chronic absences disproportionately affect students due to systemic barriers. EveryDay Labs Intervention provides the families of these students with proactive support that helps them access learning opportunities. EveryDay Labs Intervention is a research-based and proven effective solution that promotes student achievement by reducing absences and increasing access to learning opportunities.
Details: EveryDay Labs was piloted in the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) during the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year. Upon completion of professional development for Horizon School staff members, the program was launched in March 2024. Everyday Labs monitors attendance and sends out text messages, which they refer to as nudges, to guardians when students are absent. Families have an opportunity to communicate with a bot that addresses the concern and provides resources as needed. Nudges are differentiated based on language, grade level, school, and level of absenteeism. At the conclusion of the school year, over 42K text nudges had been sent out and over 3000 families interacted with the chatbot or family support team to ask questions or address identified needs. Out of 7,127 students analyzed, 55% (or 3,954 students) showed improvement in attendance after receiving at least one text and at least one mail nudge from EveryDay Labs.
Schools also have access to the attendance dashboard via the Everyday Labs platform and can monitor parent contact and communication. The goal of the program is to reduce chronic absences, support families in developing strong attendance habits, and help families make the connection between attendance and academic success.
At its business meeting on Monday, October 16, 2023, the DeKalb Board of Education approved the purchase of EveryDay Labs for an amount not to exceed $121,733 for all Horizon Schools.
Financial impact: The estimated cost to renew the Attendance Intervention platform shall not exceed $121,733 and will be paid using Title IV Funds against charge code: 462.2100.530000.03221.7020.1779.8010.090.2024.
Contact: Kishia K. Towns, Ph.D., Chief of Wrap Around Services, Division of Wrap Around Services, 678-676-1918
Mrs. Denise Revels, Director of Wrap Around and Student Support, Division of Wrap Around Services, 678-676-2011
Ms. Shelly Bishop, Coordinator of Social Work Services, Division of Wrap Around Services, 678-676-2009
Status: Approved by General Counsel
DeKalb Survey Questions
Anonymous results
1. Have you logged into EveryDay Pro more than once?
a. Yes
b. No
If no
2. Why haven’t you logged into EveryDay Pro (select all the apply)
a. It doesn’t have the information I need
b. I can find the information I need in another tool
c. It takes too much time
d. I don’t understand how to use it
e. It doesn’t help me to do my job
If yes
3. About how often do you log into Everyday Pro?
a. Daily
b. 2-3 times a week
c. Once a week
d. 2-3 times a month
e. Once a month
f. Less than once a month
4. How helpful is EveryDay Pro in your role?
a. 1 Not at all helpful
b. 2 Slightly helpful
c. 3 Somewhat helpful
d. 4 Very helpful
e. 5 Extremely helpful
5. Which of the following has EveryDay Pro helped you with (select all that apply)?
a. Identifying chronically absent students
b. Identifying attendance patterns
c. Identifying students with worsening or improving attendance
d. Documenting family and student outreach
e. Documenting attendance interventions
f. Grouping students that need attendance support
g. Tracking school attendance and chronic absence rates
h. Monitoring who is receiving chronic absence notices
i. Other (please specify)
6. How likely would you be to recommend EveryDay Pro to other schools in DeKalb?
a. 0-10 rating
7. How important is it to you that you continue to have access to EveryDay Pro next year?
a. 1 Not at all important
b. 2 Slightly important
c. 3 Somewhat important
d. 4 Very important
e. 5 Extremely important
8. Is there any other feedback you’d like to share about how EveryDay Pro has helped you?
9. Is there anything we could do to make EveryDay Pro more useful? [open response]