City Teams Up With Retailer To Improve School Attendance Rates
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Some city students are reaping the rewards of staying in school.
A total of 300 students from 25 schools across the five boroughs are participating in a special Attendance Drive.
The city partnered with Old Navy to encourage students not to miss class.
Students with the best or most improved attendance records get a $50 gift card, which they can use to buy clothes for school.
Students who participate, however, are required to sign the pledge of attendance before they shop.
"If they're not in school we're not going to able to educate our students, it's just that simple. We have some students missing 30 days, 35, even 40 days out of the year. If you cut that in half, you'll see the impact that has on their academic performance, on dropout rates, and on other things," said Schools Chancellor Joel Klein.
New York Mets All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes was at the event, cheering the students on and encouraging them to go to class.