Saved by the Bell: The Effects of Digital Curricula on Student Attendance, Punctuality, and Academic Performance

The impact of Courseware was examined during the 2023 spring semester in grades 8–12 in Clover, South Carolina. The study found that students who successfully completed at least one Courseware course demonstrated higher rates of attendance and punctuality, and higher average grades by the end of the semester. 

Students who successfully completed at least one course using Courseware had, on average, 23% fewer absences and 33% fewer tardies than their peers, meaning Courseware students gained valuable learning time. Positive effects were also observed for the average overall course grade with students in Courseware receiving higher grades than their peers who were not in Courseware, but the effects were not statistically significant.

 The findings indicate that the implementation of Courseware, which combines flexible scheduling and thoughtful program design, offers educators an impactful strategy to improve students’ engagement and attendance.