NEW BRITAIN — Smalley Elementary Art Teacher Todd Hougas, in collaboration with Jamison Bazinet, have spent this year volunteering their time to collect over 30 bikes and refurbish them as an attendance incentive for Smalley Elementary students.
This attempt at solving chronic absenteeism has proven effective in making an impact on not only attendance at Smalley but also student achievement. Chronic absenteeism is when students miss at least 10% days in the school year and has an effect on academic performance, the ability to read at grade level, and even graduate on time.
