At Sanborn Elementary in Chandler, an innovative program called "Sun Squad" is helping students with high absence rates and behavioral challenges see significant improvements. According to ABC15, the initiative led by Principal Adam McCoy targets those children who missed more than 40 days of school in a year or received six or more behavioral referrals. Since the program's inception, participating students have exhibited a 55% decrease in absenteeism.
The daily operations of the "Sun Squad" involve students engaging with their assigned mentors twice a day to discuss their behaviors and set goals. Brisa, a 6th grader with a total of 40 absences last year, told ABC15 that this year, she's aiming for perfect attendance. Her previous pattern of staying up late to play games on her phone had contributed to a cycle of truancy – a cycle, which now seems to have been effectively broken by the intervention of the "Sun Squad."
The key aspect of this program is not just the numeric decrease in school absences and behavioral issues, but also, the change in the overall school environment. McCoy has observed a positive shift as students outside the program strive for acknowledgment and undertake positive actions like regular attendance and tidying the school grounds. "We have students who aren’t in the program, coming to myself, coming to their teachers, saying, ‘Hey, Mr. McCoy, I've been here for 15 straight days.’ ‘I’m picking up trash around the campus.’ They’re intrinsically doing this because they also want to be seen and validated,” McCoy explained to ABC15.
Furthermore, Sanborn Elementary's behavior specialist, Kim Reed, underscored the significance of the "Sun Squad" outcome, describing the results as "incredible." The program's success has been so noteworthy that plans to expand it are already in the offing for the following school year. In this context, it must be noted that the school's experience affirms the broader understanding that targeted interventions can catalyze real change in student conduct and academic engagement. This growth and positive response are chronicled not only by ABC15 but also echoed by Yahoo News, who reported on the development of the "Sun Squad" as well.
