STUDENT BOND = STUDENT SUCCESS

Abstract

Perceptions of social bonding in school are essential in reducing school truancy rates. In order to address and mitigate truancy issues, it must first be identified what role schools have traditionally played in regards to how well-bonded students feel to their school. The current research project as-sessed school opportunities to increase students’ bond to school. “School bond” is defined as students’ perception of schools options for them to be attached, committed, involved, and believe in the value of school. The pre-liminary results from a sample of 20 randomly selected Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) students using the Gentle-Genitty Perception of School Social Bonding (PSSB) instrument, through a community partnership, are present-ed. In addition to perception assessment, attendance rates were also exam-ined. The goals of the entire project are 1) to evaluate students’ perceptions of their school; 2) ascertain challenges faced in the school environment as evidenced through their levels of attachment, commitment, involvement, and belief; 3) assess whether student perceptions and challenges impede or influence their attendance rates; 4) assess whether students’ bond, percep-tions, and attendance rates impede their success; and 5) assist in drafting strategies to increase attendance rates and thereby reducing evidence of truancy.