Meadowlark Elementary Principal Jon Martin gave the signal for the assembled students to quiet down, but there was still a thrum of excitement on the last day of school. It was Awards Day and students would be recognized for superior school attendance, completing an online course to learn about managing money, being good citizens and reading achievements. Sixth graders, who would be moving on to junior high next fall, got a sendoff from their fellow students with a song, cheers and high-fives.

Much of the excitement was about who would win the attendance awards. Principal Martin told how diffi...