‘A Universal Prevention Measure’ That Boosts Attendance and Improves Behavior

By Matthew Stone — April 14, 2024

Inside a locked room at Colleyville Middle School that staff members use for professional development, a “data wall” offers a glimpse of each of the school’s 600-plus students.

It lists each student’s name and academic data points dating back to 3rd grade. It includes attendance information. And next to each name appear the initials of staff members who have a substantive connection with that student—perhaps a mentoring relationship, a tendency to check in with each other at lunchtime, or a common interest over which they’ve bonded.