A+ Schools has launched a partnership with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network (SITG!) to help fight chronic absenteeism in the Pittsburgh Public School system.

Chronically absent kids fall behind in their classes and are seven times more likely to drop out of school. Last year, more than 5,500 students were chronically absent in the Pittsburgh Public School system. So A+ Schools and the Steelers are determined to improve those numbers this year. 

The SITG! program, which includes school and community attendance pledges, daily attendance tracking using data systems and school observations, integrated supports, and attendance incentives for students and staff, is part of A+ Schools‘ city-wide effort to boost school attendance. (Get more details here on how A+ and community partners can help your family overcome barriers to attendance.) 

“As an organization that regularly works with coaches, teachers, and students, we know absenteeism is an issue that schools grapple with,” said Blayre Holmes Davis, senior director of community relations for the Steelers. “It’s important for us to support students along their academic journey and demonstrate what success truly looks like — both on and off the field. We want students to be excited to go to school!”

The SITG! program will be piloted in eight PPS schools during the current school year, launching soon at Pittsburgh Arlington PreK-8, Pittsburgh Faison PreK-5, Pittsburgh Grandview PreK-5, Pittsburgh Miller PreK-5, Pittsburgh Milliones 6-12, Pittsburgh Morrow PreK-8, Pittsburgh Perry High School, and Pittsburgh Westinghouse Academy 6-12.

The Stay in the Game! Attendance Network was founded in 2019 by the Cleveland Browns Foundation, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and the Proving Ground project, which is run by the Harvard Center for Education Policy Research. SITG! is now positively impacting more than 200 school districts in Ohio. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the first NFL team outside of Ohio to partner with SITG!.

Photos at top of story courtesy of A+ Schools and the Pittsburgh Steelers.