The Gillman Auto Group of the RGV and Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District have partnered to form an attendance incentive program that aims to improve student performance and increase average daily attendance by 50 students, equaling approximately $250,000 in additional state funding.
The Gillman Auto Group of the RGV Drive for Perfect Attendance Awards program includes over $100,000 in prizes for students at all grade levels for reaching attendance goals throughout the year, including a new 2014 Chevy Sonic.
“Attending school has a direct impact on a student’s performance,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steve Flores said. “This great partnership with Gillman Auto Group of the RGV is first and foremost an opportunity to emphasize the importance of classroom attendance and to reward the students who go above and beyond in that component to classroom learning. When you add in the financial benefit in state funding, then you have a program that is a win-win for all of HCISD’s stakeholders.”
Schools in Texas receive funding based on an average daily attendance statistic that is monitored by the Texas Education Agency in six, six-week periods during the school year. Because HCISD meets a state set threshold of migrant students, over 5 percent of the student population, the state considers the district’s best four of the six periods in calculating its ADA. For every student, HCISD receives $5,102 in state funds.
Last school year, HCISD reported an ADA of 17,026.3 students with a student enrollment population reaching 18,509 during a PEIMS snapshot in the fall of 2012.
“One of the basic strengths of the Gillman Companies is our absolute commitment to being a positive force in the communities we serve,” said Scott Dupons, VP/GM. Gillman Rio Grande Valley. “Our entire Gillman Rio Grande Valley team is therefore both honored and excited to continue our long and satisfying relationship with the Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District. HCISD’s teachers and administrators have done an exceptional job in building student class attendance. We trust this new program will give added incentive to students to earn perfect attendance records. The students in our schools today are tomorrow’s citizens in our communities. Much of our continued prosperity depends upon the quality of the education they receive in our schools. The Gillman Companies are privileged to sponsor this dynamic HCISD effort.”
As part of its sponsorship, Gillman has provided the Chevy Sonic, as well as a 13” MacBook Prof, an iPad Mini, a Samsung Galaxy Tablet and 50 gift cards, totaling $20,000 in prizes for high school juniors and seniors. In addition to the prizes from Gillman, HCISD will raffle 72 iPad minis at all high schools and middle schools after each academic quarter for students who have had perfect attendance in the quarter, allowing students who miss for illness during one quarter to be eligible for a reward in a subsequent quarter.
HCISD will randomly select eligible students for the individual awards in accordance with contest rules and district policies for attendance.
For elementary students, HCISD will reward campuses with additional funding for reaching attendance goals throughout the first five, six-week periods with the money used to reward students at the campus level for attendance.
In total, HCISD has budgeted $90,000 for the incentive program and Gillman has allocated $20,000 in prizes.
Complete rules for the program can be found at www.hcisd.org/driveforattendnce.
