Schools use novel ways to boost attendance

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- California students reportedly are increasingly being begged, bribed and badgered to go to class and it's not only for educational purposes.

There's also a need to boost the coffers of cash-strapped school districts that rely on state funding largely determined by daily attendance, the Los Angeles Times says.

For example, Temecula schools, losing about $30,000 a day because of absences, are raffling a car, Disneyland vacations and iPods to pupils with near-perfect attendance.

Santa Ana educators are encouraging teen moms to come to class by opening a day-care center. Other districts are urging parents who take their kids on vacation to reimburse them for lost state revenue.

Because about 80 percent of a district's budget is based on attendance, lost days add up quickly. It's estimated that absenteeism costs schools $30 to $40 per student per day, which adds up to millions of dollars annually in large districts.