New Program Rewards Evansville Students for Showing Up

Mayor Stephanie Terry and the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation (EVSC) just teamed up on something pretty exciting – Mayor Terry's Attendance Challenge. This nine-month pilot program is about to make showing up to class a little sweeter for families in the Evansville Promise Neighborhood.

City of Evansville

How Mayor Terry's Attendance Challenge Works

Starting October 1, any student who racks up perfect attendance the month before gets automatically entered into a monthly drawing. Each month, 37 lucky families will be picked to receive a $300 Housing Stability gift card - money that can go straight toward everyday essentials like rent, utility bills, or groceries.

Six Evansville Schools Are Participating

Six schools are part of the program: Bosse High School, Delaware Elementary, Evans School, Glenwood Leadership Academy, Lincoln School, and Lodge Community School.

Why Attendance Matters for Student Success

"Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, and that starts with being present in the classroom," Mayor Terry said, adding that the program is designed to ease some of the financial pressure that can keep kids from making it to school in the first place.

EVSC Superintendent Darla Hoover echoed that sentiment, calling attendance "a primary factor in academic achievement" and noting that every day in class is another chance for students to learn and grow.

Where the Attendance Challenge Funding Comes From

The whole initiative is funded by $100,000 in interest earned on the city's ARPA funds – so it's a smart, no-extra-cost way to invest right back into Evansville's kids. Beyond boosting classroom time, city and school leaders hope the ripple effects reach further, too: stronger reading skills, better academic outcomes, and fewer risk factors tied to juvenile crime.

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It's a simple idea with a lot of heart – reward the habit that makes everything else possible.