Going to school every day can be rewarding. Ask students at Featherstone Elementary School in Woodbridge, Virginia. Officials there hold attendance challenges. Kids can win prizes like snacks, a pajama day, or even a pet goldfish!
Other schools across the country also hand out rewards to help boost attendance. Research shows that students who miss 15 or more days in a school year could be at risk of falling behind.
“We want to ensure that students are on track to be successful,” says Featherstone principal Christina Treadwell. As a result of the challenges, absences at Featherstone were down last school year.
But critics argue that getting a good education should be enough of a reward. They say kids shouldn’t expect to win prizes for something they’re supposed to do anyway.
