A Note from the Executive Director

The best predictor of chronic absence is a history of poor attendance during the prior school year, research shows. Before the school year ends, examine your data to identify which students are ending the year chronically absent and might benefit from extra outreach over the summer. 

Use this data to encourage those students to participate in summer learning programs that can help to improve attendance and engagement. Share with families the American Camp Association’s Find a Camp tool, and Boys and Girls Club, 5 Ways to Stop the Summer Slide and Help Kids Keep Learning.

Keep in mind that chronic absence is typically highest for students in the transition grades (K, 6th and 9th). Leaders can meet with transition grade personnel in the schools that will receive them in the fall, and conduct a warm hand-off for students who are chronically absent. Consider these tips offered by Head Start for students entering kindergarten. For older students, read the AMLE blog post, Welcoming Students to Middle School, and AdLit’s resources to help students transition to high school.

Equally important, convene district and school teams to take stock of what worked and what can be improved. Before school is over create a year-long plan for taking action in the coming school year. If additional support is needed, consider signing up for our three-class virtual learning program, designed to help educators work as a team. Learn more about this professional development. 

It has been a challenging year for all of us in the education field, and especially for those of you working with students and their families. We are in awe of your dedication to teaching and supporting all children on their path to a successful adulthood. 

Warmly, 

Hedy Chang

Founder and Executive Director

Here Today, Ready for Tomorrow! The 2025 campaign will highlight how regular school attendance provides a strong foundation for a healthy and successful adult life. 

Find a 2025 badge to display on your website, blog, e-mail signature line, and social media profile pictures to help spread the word about the Attendance Awareness Campaign 2025! Download and print the updated posters with this year’s slogan for students preK-12.

The next AAC webinar, Student Connectedness Fosters Attendance and Engagement, features educators sharing their locally-tailored approaches for successfully reducing chronic absence. Register for webinar 3, on August 6, 12pm-1:30pm PT / 3pm-4:30 pm ET. 

Don’t forget to register for webinar 4, Family Engagement is the Foundation for Attendance and Learning, scheduled for September 24.

Fears of immigration enforcement continue to impact school attendance. States and districts have compiled guidance and resources to support immigrant families. For example, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes offers guidance for schools on immigration enforcement including things schools and districts can do right now to alleviate confusion and provide reassurance to parents and students. In Washington state, Vancouver Public Schools offers links on its website that can help community refugee and immigrant families connect with community resources. 

Also view the nonprofit SchoolHouse Connections helpful resource for preK-12, Immigrant Students: How Schools Can Help. 

Positive, trusting relationships between students, families and educators are essential to improve engagement and attendance for all students. View the webinar, Improve Family Engagement and Attendance by Cultivating a Culture of Caring. Lorri Hobson, Attendance Works director of product development, and former director of ADM/Attendance, Cleveland Metropolitan School District (OH), shares a five-step process for developing a culture of caring that strengthens family engagement.

Leaders from three districts in Virginia: Alexandria City Public Schools, Louisa County Public Schools, and Norton City Public Schools presented their creative attendance solutions during the Virginia Department of Education’s first Bright Spots & Bold Solutions webinar. Find the slides and the recording from the meeting posted to the Bright Spots & Bold Solutions Padlet. 

The Attendance Works virtual three-part training series for educators is here to help. Registration is open for fall 2025 classes. Learn proven, evidence-based tiered strategies to engage students and families in improving attendance. Interested in a customized series for local participants? Contact us at help@attendanceworks.org.

Still Missing Too Much School, a report developed by Helios Education Foundation and WestEd, offers new insights into the connection between chronic absence and academic performance for students in Arizona. It also features school districts that have successfully reduced chronic absence rates, and actionable recommendations from the Arizona Chronic Absence Task Force for policymakers, schools and local education agencies.

We’re presenting at the 2025 National Community Schools and Family Engagement Conference, May 28-30, in Minneapolis, MN. The event for educators will lift up family engagement, community schools and other whole-child strategies. Learn more and register. 

The Education Commission of the States National Forum on Education Policy, July 9-11, 2025, in Salt Lake City, UT will examine six policy priority areas to support educator’s most critical needs, including improving student attendance, engagement and well-being. Register here. 

To Tackle Chronic Absenteeism, This DC High School Lets Students Lead, The 74, May 20, 2025

How a California school district is solving the problem of chronically absent students, CBS Evening News, May 15, 2025

Career-connected learning builds a more employable, future-ready generation, eSchool News, May 2, 2025

This Educator Shows Why Family Trust Is Key to School Attendance, Education Week, April 28, 2025

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