Superintendent launches ‘King-Sized Rewards’ to combat chronic absenteeism

Superintendent launches “King-Sized Rewards” to Combat Chronic Absenteeism

JACKSON, TN — JMCSS is taking a bold, student-centered approach to addressing chronic absenteeism through a new districtwide initiative led by Superintendent Dr. Marlon King. Known as King-Sized Rewards, the initiative focuses on celebrating consistent attendance and recognizing schools that are successfully keeping students engaged and present.

Chronic absenteeism—generally defined as missing 10 percent or more of the school year—disrupts learning, lowers academic achievement, and impacts overall school performance. District leaders say improving attendance is essential to ensuring students remain on track academically and socially, while also strengthening school culture.

“Attendance is the foundation of student success,” said Superintendent Dr. Marlon King. “King-Sized Rewards exists to shift the narrative around attendance by celebrating what’s going right. When schools, students, and staff see that being present is valued and recognized, it creates momentum that benefits everyone.”

As part of the initiative, the Superintendent Chronicle highlights schools with the lowest absence rates each week, creating visibility and fostering friendly competition across the district. Every nine weeks, schools demonstrating the lowest rates of chronic absenteeism receive a major reward supported by Dr. King. A districtwide attendance scoreboard will be shared publicly beginning next Wednesday, giving all schools a clear benchmark and a renewed opportunity to rise. Additionally, those school that make the most improvements to their rates are rewarded as well.

Principals are empowered to select incentives from a rewards catalog, allowing each school to choose experiences that best align with student interests and school culture. The approach ensures flexibility while reinforcing the same core message: daily attendance matters.

“Our focus is not punishment, but motivation,” said Deputy Superintendent Dr. Vivian Williams. “When students understand that showing up consistently can lead to positive experiences, we see improvements not only in attendance, but also in behavior, engagement, and school pride.”

Schools across JMCSS are already cashing in on quarterly rewards in creative and impactful ways. In December, more than 300 students from Madison Academic participated in a celebration at Jackson Family Fun Center, enjoying bowling, putt-golf, arcade games, and other activities. More than 200 students from JCM Early College High traveled to Main Event in Memphis for pizza, bowling, laser tag, games, and more.

Meanwhile, South Side, Liberty Technology, Thelma Barker, and Isaac Lane transformed their gyms into inflatable “jumper” paradises, engaging more than 1,800 students in full days of activity across the four campuses, while Northeast Middle School is preparing to reward students with a day at the movie theater.

“These celebrations reinforce the idea that attendance leads to opportunity,” said Dr. LaDonna Braswell, Principal of Liberty Technology High School. “Our students were excited, proud, and motivated. When they see a direct connection between showing up and being rewarded, it changes behavior in a positive way.”

According to district data, 52 percent of Liberty students were deemed chronically absent during the 2024-2025 school year. Today, less than 38 percent of Liberty students are considered chronically absent and – due to better attendance during the 2nd nine-weeks – more students are eligible for the second round of King-Sized Rewards. To get a clearer picture of the improvement, 46 percent of their students were deemed chronically absent this time last year.

District leaders emphasize that King-Sized Rewards is about more than prizes—it is about reinforcing expectations, building positive habits, and ensuring students are present every day to learn, grow, and succeed.

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