Featured Resource
SchoolStatus Launches Literacy Solution to Help Districts Engage Families in Improving Reading Outcomes
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When we took away the clerical piece of attendance interventions, principals became more connected to students and families. They started to recognize the real-life barriers to attendance. Now, they’re connected to people and not paper.Dr. Margie Boulware
Executive Director of Special Programs, Corsicana ISDSchoolStatus is a powerhouse data and communication tool.Chad Shealy
Superintendent, Vicksburg Warren School DistrictHaving a student’s data and family communication on a single screen means that we’re seeing issues sooner, and then can address those issues immediately.Elizabeth Lalor
Elizabeth Lalor, Deputy Superintendent for Educational Support & School AdministrationAs an administrator, I want to make sure that if a kid's not there, I want my teachers to call the families before we get a whole administrative intervention and counselors involved. And if all of your communication comes through SchoolStatus, which it does in my district, I can see it all—it’s all right there.Chad Shealy
Superintendent, Vicksburg Warren School DistrictSchoolStatus is a powerhouse data and communication tool.Chad Shealy
Superintendent, Vicksburg Warren School DistrictWe’ve saved hundreds of hours of staff time, and I’m sure many more for our parent community. By digitizing and automating everything through [SchoolStatus Forms & Flows], there’s no more populating information from the DOE into forms by hand.Renny Fong
Principal at PS 130 Hernando De Soto (Manhattan)[SchoolStatus Boost: Inspire] has played a huge role in our continuous learning and coaching process, which has led to the observed professional growth of our teachers.Josh Snyder
Director of Learning, Wahoo Public Schools -
SchoolStatus has provided us a tool to make communication easier, more transparent, and quantifiable.Dr. Ron Brown
Former Superintendent, Lumpkin County SchoolsWe’ve seen an over 50% decrease in chronic absenteeism, which is the statewide goal. We’re already there, in just one year of work.Jessica Hull
Executive Director of Communication and Community Engagement, Roseville City School DistrictThe help [SchoolStatus] gave us was amazing; I’ve never before received help like that from any company. Honestly, we feel like we want to stay with [SchoolStatus] forever.Dina Testa
Assistant Principal, Intermediate School 7 at NYCDOEEveryone wins when you stay in the loop, and SchoolStatus Connect really helped me make that happen while also saving me time.Ellen Zissis
First Grade Teacher, Chartiers Valley Primary SchoolOur families now feel that they’re not alone. They know we want to talk with them. That’s why we’re using SchoolStatus Connect.Maureen Brown
Principal and Director of Outreach, Dove Schools -
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It's exciting to contribute to something that supports both educators and students in such a direct, measurable way.Casey Bevins
Senior Visual DesignerI like the ease with which I can contact families using my own personal phone without giving out my personal number. I also like that the student's contacts are readily available. This platform works well for families to contact us, too. We can truly partner in the student's education and work towards a goal that works for all.Abigail S.
TeacherWe’ve seen an over 50% decrease in chronic absenteeism, which is the statewide goal. We’re already there, in just one year of work.Jessica Hull
Executive Director of Communication and Community Engagement, Roseville City School District
Featured Resource
Key Attendance Trends from the 2025-26 School Year: Insights from 1.1M Students
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THE MISSION: ATTENDANCE WEBINAR SERIES
The Framework Behind Districts Reversing Chronic Absenteeism
Sept 29 · Oct 13 · Nov 3, 2026, at 11 AM PT/2 PM ET
Every district has some kind of process for handling absences, but most are built around compliance. And they’re often reacting too late.
District leaders need a clear and comprehensive view of the real barriers to attendance, along with a consistent intervention approach that drives results.
Mission: Attendance is SchoolStatus’s proven framework for reducing district-wide chronic absenteeism. It’s built on 20+ years of experience working with hundreds of districts.
Join us for a free three-part series that walks through the framework live, session by session. Each part brings a different expert speaker with invaluable real-life experience.
THE MISSION: ATTENDANCE WEBINAR SERIES
During this free on-demand series, you’ll learn:
- How to build one standard for tracking and responding to absences across every building in your district
- How to read attendance patterns across your district and catch them early
- How to build family outreach that earns trust before there’s ever a problem to report
Building a Consistent Districtwide Response
to Absenteeism
September 29, 2026 | 11AM ET / 2PM PT
Even districts with ambitious attendance goals can struggle to make progress when every school responds to absenteeism differently. Inconsistent practices make it harder to identify trends, support families, and build trust across the district.
In this 45-minute session, you’ll learn how to create a consistent approach to improving attendance.
Dr. Marcy Burroughs, the Superintendent at the Sumter County Public School District in Alabama, will join to share how her district has reduced chronic absenteeism through a shared Attendance Manual, a codified approach to family engagement, and uniform reporting across school sites.
You’ll leave with a blueprint you can start using in your own district tomorrow.
Making Attendance Data Visible
Across Every Building
October 13, 2026 | 11AM ET / 2PM PT
Attendance data is more than a single number; hidden are trends that can help districts understand what’s contributing to missed days.
In this 45-minute session, you’ll learn how to uncover meaningful trends in your attendance data, including grade-level spikes, day-of-week dips, and seasonal patterns. We’ll also explore how to use early warning signs to address absenteeism before it becomes entrenched.
Katina Keener, the Associate Director of Student Services & Title IX Coordinator at Gloucester County Public Schools in Virginia, will join to share how her district analyzes attendance data to target their response to absenteeism.
Family Outreach That Builds Trust and
Reduces Chronic Absenteeism
November 3, 2026 | 11AM ET / 2PM PT
For many families, communication from school doesn’t begin until absenteeism has already become a concern. But districts seeing the greatest improvements are changing that dynamic by building trust early and making every interaction feel supportive rather than punitive.
In this 45-minute session, you’ll learn how to engage families in a way that helps uncover the real barriers to attendance. We’ll explore how to audit official letters and notifications for tone, frame outreach in ways that demonstrate support, and reach every family early, warmly, and in their home language.
Chris Henson, the Acting Superintendent of Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD in West Texas, will join to share how his district builds the kind of family trust that encourages families to share what’s getting in the way of regular attendance and partner with campuses to fix it.
Attend live to get a free digital copy of the companion Mission: Attendance book!
Meet the Speakers
Dr. Marcy Burroughs
Superintendent • Sumter County Public School District, AL
Dr. Marcy Burroughs has served as Superintendent of Sumter County School District since 2023. Her path there ran through school improvement work at the Alabama State Department of Education, a Curriculum and Instruction Director role in Bessemer City Schools, and assistant principal positions in Tuscaloosa and Dallas County. She holds degrees from Stillman College, the University of Alabama, the University of West Alabama, and a doctorate from Samford University.
Katina Keener
Associate Director of Student Services & Title IX Coordinator • Gloucester County Public Schools, VA
Katina Smith Keener is Associate Director of Student Services for Gloucester County Public Schools, where her entire career in education has taken place. She previously served as principal of Achilles Elementary School. She holds a degree from William & Mary.
Chris Henson
Acting Superintendent of Schools • Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD
Chris Henson is Acting Superintendent of Pecos-Barstow-Toyah ISD in West Texas, where he has spent 20 of his 31 years in public education. He previously served as Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, with experience spanning special education, coaching, campus administration, and district leadership. He holds a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Special Education from Sul Ross State University.
Dr. Kara Stern, Ph.D.
Director of Education, SchoolStatus
Dr. Kara Stern has seen school from just about every angle: high school English teacher, middle school principal, fellowship director for math and science teachers across New York City, and head of school at a rural N-12 school. That breadth is what she brings to her work at SchoolStatus, where she writes, speaks, and challenges educators to build the kinds of school communities where every student thrives. She holds a Master’s in Education Leadership from Teachers College and a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning from NYU.