Monitoring and improving student attendance patterns
Individual interventions matter, but lasting improvement in chronic absenteeism requires building a school culture where attendance is valued, expected, and supported by everyone.
When students miss weeks or months of school, returning isn't simple. Effective reintegration requires academic support, social reconnection, and careful planning to prevent future absences.
Good attendance intervention requires good attendance data. Learn how to build systems that collect accurate data, identify students needing support, and enable timely response.
36 states now include chronic absenteeism in their school accountability systems under ESSA. Here's how attendance factors into school ratings and what it means for districts.
Not all attendance interventions are equally effective. Research identifies which approaches produce real improvements—and which don't work despite good intentions.
Youth mental health challenges have surged, and school avoidance has become a leading driver of chronic absenteeism. Learn to recognize the signs and support students back to school.
For many students, the biggest obstacle to attending school isn't motivation—it's getting there. Understanding and addressing transportation barriers is essential to improving attendance.
Punitive approaches to attendance don't work. Engaging families as partners—understanding barriers, sharing data, and providing support—produces better outcomes.
Waiting until a student is chronically absent is too late. Learn to recognize the early warning signs and intervene before occasional absences become persistent patterns.
23.5% of students are chronically absent—57% above pre-pandemic levels. This comprehensive overview examines why attendance matters, what's driving the crisis, and what can be done.
