Attendance Initiative FAQ

1. What is the purpose of the Attendance Incentive Program?

Chronic absenteeism is a growing concern that affects student achievement, graduation rates, and long-term success. This program is designed to encourage consistent school attendance by providing financial incentives to students who attend school every day.

2. What are the details of the program?

• Dates: January 5, 2026 - May 22, 2026 
• Incentive: $25 gift card per week for students who attend school every day during the week
• Eligibility: Attendance will be tracked to ensure students are present for the full school day (students missing more than 50% of the day are considered absent).
• Payments: $25 payments are processed through Bill.com. 
• All funds must be used by June 30, 2026

3. How do I get paid the $25.00? 

Payments are available through our partner, Bill.com.

1. Complete and return the Registration packet to the school or email it to wsf@charlestoncountyschools.gov. 
2. You will need to download the app. 
3. Once you receive a welcome email from Bill.com, you will be able to finish setting up your account.

 

4. How often will I get paid? 

Payments are issued weekly beginning  January 16, 2026. While payments are issued, please allow 24-48 hours for the funds to be available. 

 

** While disbursements are made on Friday, please allow up to 48 hours for your funds to be available. 

5. Who do I contact with questions about payment? 

For technical assistance with Bill.com, please visit: https://help.bill.com/direct/s/contact-us for Live Chat support

For questions regarding your child’s eligibility or questions about the incentive program, please contact the school or email wsf@charlestoncountyschools.gov.

6. Who is eligible to participate?

Students in 3rd-5th grade with high absenteeism have been identified for this pilot program. 

8. What schools or districts have tried similar programs?

• Detroit Public Schools launched an attendance incentive in 2025, offering $200 gift cards for perfect attendance every two weeks, resulting in 1,800 students achieving perfect attendance in the first week.
• Oakland Unified School District found that while financial incentives increased attendance, strong relationships with educators kept students engaged long-term.
• Birmingham City Schools & St. Louis Public Schools have successfully used financial incentives to help families with transportation costs, reducing attendance barriers.

9. How will the district determine if the program is successful?

The district will assess:

• Reduction in chronic absenteeism among participating students.
• Overall improvement in daily attendance rates in pilot schools.
• Academic progress in literacy and math for students in the program.
• Parent and student feedback on the program’s impact.
• A cost-benefit analysis comparing the program to traditional attendance interventions.