How One Virginia District Cut Administrative Burden While Boosting Attendance

By Dr. Kara Stern • 3 min

TL;DR

Caroline County Public Schools transformed attendance management by dramatically reducing administrative workload while improving student outcomes. Watch their on-demand webinar to discover the 7-pillar strategy that achieved a 52.9% excellent attendance rate and outperformed national chronic absenteeism averages.

The Universal Challenge

Every minute your staff spends on attendance paperwork is a minute they can’t spend with students. Every phone call about absences is a missed opportunity for proactive relationship-building. Every manual process is a barrier to meaningful intervention.

Caroline County Public Schools faced this same reality until they decided to completely reimagine their approach.

Beyond Technology: A Holistic Transformation

While many districts focus solely on attendance tracking software, Caroline County understood that sustainable change requires more. Under the leadership of Superintendent Dr. Sarah Calveric, they developed a comprehensive strategy that addresses the root causes of absenteeism, going beyond just the symptoms.

The results speak for themselves:

52.9% of students achieved excellent or satisfactory attendance
49% reduction in repeat interventions needed
Below national average chronic absenteeism in most grades
Administrative tasks reduced from hours to just 5-15 minutes per week

What Makes Caroline County Different?

The district rebuilt their entire attendance ecosystem. From strategic staffing decisions to innovative student engagement programs, every element works together to create an environment where attendance naturally improves.

Their high schools particularly shine, consistently outperforming national averages in ways that other districts can learn from and replicate.

The Blueprint for Your District

Caroline County’s transformation offers a roadmap for any district ready to move beyond traditional attendance management. But the real insights matter most: the specific strategies, the implementation challenges, the unexpected wins.

That’s why you need to hear directly from the leaders who made it happen.

Watch the Complete Strategy Revealed

In this recorded webinar, Dr. Sarah Calveric, Superintendent, and Jeff Wick, Coordinator of Safety & Compliance, share:

✓ The 7-pillar framework that transformed attendance district-wide

✓ How they freed staff from paperwork to focus on relationships

✓ Specific strategies for supporting vulnerable populations

✓ Why their high schools outperform national averages

✓ The surprising programs that made the biggest impact

✓ Practical implementation tips you can use immediately

This webinar provides a masterclass in systemic change from leaders who’ve proven it works.

Watch the Webinar Now

Perfect For:

District administrators seeking comprehensive attendance solutions
Student services teams overwhelmed by manual processes
Leaders looking to support vulnerable student populations
Anyone who believes attendance is about more than just counting heads

The strategies Caroline County shares could transform your approach to attendance and free your staff to do what they do best.

View the On-Demand Recording

Frequently Asked Questions

How long did it take Caroline County to see results after implementing their 7-pillar strategy?

The district saw immediate reductions in administrative workload, which allowed staff to begin relationship-building activities right away. By the end of the 2024-2025 school year, they achieved their 52.9% excellent/satisfactory attendance rate.

What funding sources did Caroline County use for this comprehensive transformation?

The district leveraged a combination of strategic staffing reallocations, existing budget optimization, and partnerships with external organizations to support their various initiatives across all seven strategic areas.

Can smaller districts implement Caroline County’s approach?

Absolutely. While Caroline County serves approximately 4,600 students, their strategies are scalable. The webinar covers how to adapt their framework based on district size and available resources.

Dr. Kara Stern
Director, Education and Engagement

Dr. Kara Stern began her career as an ELA teacher, then shifted into administration as a middle school principal. Dr. Stern is a fervent advocate for equitable communication and family engagement. She spent five years as Executive Director at Math for America, where she designed the professional learning community that exists to this day. An unexpected move to Tel Aviv launched her into the world of EdTech where she became the Director of Education Content for Smore and then the Head of Content at SchoolStatus. Outside of work, she indulges her love for reading, devouring two novels weekly, with a particular fondness for heists and spy stories.