Attendance

Education news, analysis, and opinion on the importance of going to school regularly and the effects of truancy or chronic absences on learning
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School & District Management This Intervention Cut Course Failures by a Third. How It Works
Participating schools saw decreases in absenteeism and course failures
Caitlynn Peetz, June 24, 2025
4 min read
Jennifer Hosler, center, a pastor and parent of a child who attends Mundo Verde Public Charter School, leads parents and staff in a chant of solidarity as they keep watch for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in front of the school, amid fears of impending arrests at schools on May 6, 2025.
Jennifer Hosler, center, a pastor and parent of a child who attends Mundo Verde Public Charter School, leads parents and staff in a chant of solidarity as they keep watch for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in front of the school, amid fears of impending arrests at schools, Tuesday, May 6, 2025. A new study found that immigration raids lead to increases in student absences, interrupting student learning.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
School & District Management What We Know About How ICE Raids Disrupt Student Learning
Past and present research studies found broad implications of immigration enforcement on students' school attendance.
Ileana Najarro, June 24, 2025
5 min read
Scarce classroom of students taking exams at their desks with empty desks in the foreground.
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Student Well-Being Quiz: What Are the Best Ways to Fight Chronic Absenteeism?
What does the research say about fighting absenteeism? What gets in the way of students attending school? Quiz yourself!
Caitlynn Peetz, June 19, 2025
1 min read
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School & District Management
Moving the Needle on Attendance: What’s Working NOW
See how family engagement is improving attendance, and how to put it to work in schools.
Content provided by TalkingPoints
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Families & the Community The Low-Cost, Low-Lift Way These Districts Used to Reduce Student Absences
Dozens of districts tested this strategy as one component of their absenteeism-fighting strategy.
Caitlynn Peetz, June 6, 2025
6 min read
Image of a school bus driving on the road in the rain.
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Student Well-Being What School Leaders Learned When They Talked to Families About Absenteeism
A district enlisted its community to find out why students were missing school and responded accordingly.
Caitlynn Peetz, June 4, 2025
5 min read
Families & the Community Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About Building Strong School & Home Connections?
Answer 7 questions about building strong family and school connections.
May 27, 2025
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Families & the Community Q&A This Educator Shows Why Family Trust Is Key to School Attendance
Overhauling family engagement helped Richmond, Va. public schools helped boost attendance. Here's how.
Sarah D. Sparks, April 28, 2025
5 min read
Empty desks within a classroom
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School & District Management 1 in 4 Students Are Chronically Absent. 3 Tools to Change That
Chronic absenteeism is a daunting problem. But district leaders aren't alone in facing it, and there are ways they can fight it.
Caitlynn Peetz, April 18, 2025
5 min read
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School & District Management Webinar
Breaking the Cycle: Future-Proofing Schools Against Chronic Absenteeism
Chronic absenteeism is a signal, not just data. Join us for a webinar on reimagining attendance with research & AI!
Content provided by Panorama Education
School & District Management Live Online Discussion A Seat at the Table: We Can’t Engage Students If They Aren’t Here: Strategies to Address the Absenteeism Conundrum
Absenteeism rates are growing fast. Join Peter DeWitt and experts to learn how to re-engage students & families.
April 9, 2025
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Student Well-Being Whitepaper
K-12 Attendance Intervention Toolkit
In this toolkit, you’ll gain insights into the overall challenge of chronic absenteeism and what you can do to intervene and get students...
Content provided by PowerSchool
New canvas school bags hanging on the backs of empty classroom student chairs in a large modern classroom
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States Lawmakers Want to Fix Student Absenteeism With Ice Cream Parties, Data, and More
State lawmakers have introduced dozens of bills aiming to make school attendance a priority.
Evie Blad, April 1, 2025
3 min read
Photograph of the back of a father and son (wearing a bookbag) holding hands while walking down a brick-paved sidewalk.
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Budget & Finance What Trump's Mass Deportations Could Mean for School Budgets
Federal threats against immigrants could depress local and state funding for schools and cause a spike in chronic absenteeism.
Mark Lieberman, March 24, 2025
13 min read
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