This presentation addresses the need for schools that have high chronic absenteeism rates to improve their relationships, partnerships, and data management to improve attendance outcomes. We know that chronic absenteeism has lifelong implications such as higher rates of high school and university dropout, lower professional attainment, and poor health and early death. Chronic absenteeism must be addressed in a systematic, human-centered way. Leveraging the community school strategy helps address and fill the gaps that schools are seeing. Using frameworks such as the CA-MTSS and the 6 Root Causes of Effective Community Engagement helps strengthen the Community School strategy so that schools have practical tools to reduce rates of chronic absenteeism. This presentation is intended for school and district leaders that serve TK-8th grade in San Diego county.

This presentation will show how Feaster Charter School had to address major pitfalls before showing success in reducing chronic absenteeism. National research from Attendance Works will be presented to show how alignment of the research, current state objectives, and a school's strategies can help transform the school culture around attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism.

We will show how Feaster was able to reduce the chronic absentee rate by over 40% in one year while giving practical tools that can be used immediately by sites and districts. The presentation focuses on the applied work, the power of relationships and partnerships with families, students, and community members, and the program's success with clear links on how the concepts can be replicated.

Learning Objectives:

Participants will understand and be able to apply key strategies to reducing chronic absenteeism.

Success Criteria:

1. Identify and reflect on your site/LEA’s attendance pitfalls

2. Identify and reflect on attendance strategies already being employed at your site/LEA’s

3. Identify and reflect on 1-3 ways your site/LEA can enhance attendance strategies OR 1-3 strategies that your site/LEA will consider using to improve attendance