Milwaukee Bucks and Milwaukee Public Schools team up to promote school attendance

The Milwaukee Bucks and Milwaukee Public Schools announced  a joint initiative to promote attendance among Milwaukee students. 

Bucks forward Jabari Parker is the spokesman, and the program is aimed at increasing awareness of the importance of students being in school all day, every day.

\"In every aspect of life, success comes to those who show up every day willing to work hard,\" Parker said. \"You can't learn if you aren't in school. It's my hope that every MPS student will realize the importance of making every day count.\" 

\"Students who are in school all day, every day increase their academic success and that's what we want for all of our young people,\" MPS Superintendent Dr. Darienne Driver said. \"We are grateful to the Milwaukee Bucks and Jabari Parker for recognizing that everyone in our community has a stake in helping our students succeed.\"

Studies have shown that missing just a single day each month during a student's first semester of high school can reduce the likelihood of graduating to 63%. As early as sixth grade, absenteeism has been shown to be the leading predictor of whether or not a student will drop out of high school, and kindergarteners who miss two or more days of school per month have a much more difficult time learning to read.

As part of Parker's involvement in the campaign, he has pledged to reward select MPS students each semester who have great attendance or have shown significant improvement in attendance by treating them to dinner. He will also make visits to MPS schools that have shown attendance increases throughout the school year.