A Note from the Executive Director

In these uncertain days, I want to let you know that our commitment to ensuring all kids and youth show up for learning is even stronger. Especially during chaotic times, children and families need the consistency of a regular routine of going to school.

Despite the cuts in federal resources, Attendance Works is here for you. We are not funded directly by the federal government. To meet increased demand, we are stepping up our efforts to expand funding from foundations and individual donors so we can provide free and affordable support.

Our core offerings: a vibrant website full of free resources, our virtual convenings of states, technical assistance and the national Attendance Awareness Campaign continue unhampered. The current situation makes it even more essential for us to serve as a trusted source of evidence-based strategies and advice. Our goal is to ensure localities and states do not need to reinvent the wheel.

We all agree that regular school attendance makes a difference in student well-being and achievement, in building strong communities and in preparing the next generation workforce. Attendance Works is successfully collaborating across partisan lines with states and districts to improve attendance. The 50% Challenge to Reduce Chronic Absence, with 15 states already signed on, demonstrates this common commitment.

In January, with the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University, we analyzed national data for the 2022-23 school year and found that while modest improvements in reducing chronic absence are occurring in most states, it remains a challenge nearly everywhere. Just like efforts to address low test scores, the absenteeism challenge merits and requires an all hands-on-deck approach. On the plus side, we are seeing states and districts improving attendance and engagement with comprehensive, data driven, prevention-oriented approaches.

We truly are better together. Thank you for your commitment to provide all students opportunities to learn and thrive. I look forward to our continued partnership in 2025!

Best wishes, 

Hedy Chang

Founder and Executive Director

During the spring months, consider hosting special activities that will encourage students to attend and that strengthen relationships. Count ME In’s Attendance March Madness is a fun, competitive way to encourage attendance by using a bracket-style challenge between classrooms or grade levels. Check out Count ME In’s toolkit. 

Prepare to prevent a lag in attendance by sending a letter home or planning events that make school hard to miss. Check out our Spring Slide resources.

Healthy students are more likely to attend school, stay engaged and to be ready to learn. While occasional health-related absences are expected, they can add up. What can schools and districts do to reduce and prevent unnecessary health-related absences? Read our handout with strategies that districts, schools and community partners can use.

Research shows that changes in federal immigration approaches lead to lower attendance for Latino and English language students. What do to? CAAASA brought together 3 district leaders in California who shared what they are doing to address this. Watch the recorded webinar or listen to the podcast.

Our student attendance success plans can be a way of helping families identify backup support to get students to and from school when challenges arise.

Working with a school team, leveraging student-level data and connecting with students and families in the summer are three actions that led to improved attendance at a middle school in Rhode Island. Principal W. Jackson Reilly spearheaded these and other efforts leading to a drop in chronic absence rate from 50% to 29% over a year and a half. Learn more.

Based on math and reading scores released by NAEP, the Education Recovery Scorecard shows that districts with high post-pandemic absenteeism had slower recovery, but the full impact of the rise in absenteeism is not yet clear. The scorecard, a collaboration by researchers at Harvard University, Stanford University and faculty at Dartmouth College, highlights the work of over 100 districts performing above pre-pandemic levels in both math and reading.

A study of elementary schools in Delaware found that high overall levels of absence in a school has more adverse impacts on student learning than individual student absences. Researchers from the Universe of Delaware and AIR examined attendance and student achievement of students in kindergarten through third grade.

Homeless students have a higher rate of chronic absence than other low-income students. We’ve teamed up with SchoolHouse Connection for a two-part webinar focused on the challenges of getting to school experienced by unhoused families and tools and strategies for district attendance professionals to improve attendance. Learn more and register for webinar 1 on Thursday, March 13th, 1:00-2:30 pm ET and Webinar 2 on Tuesday, March 18th, 1:00-3:00 pm ET.

National absenteeism rates starting gradual decline, Nevada Appeal, February 16, 2025

Nearly 5 years after schools closed, the nation gets a new report card, NPR, January 29, 2025

Despite dip, chronic absenteeism remains stubbornly high at 28%, K-12 Dive, January 21, 2025

Resources for parents of children with asthma, Planet Detroit, January 10, 2025

Please donate today to ensure that we have what it takes to continue providing you with resources that help students show up to school every day possible.