56% of Communication Professionals See Better Attendance When Including Students in School Messages

NSPRA and SchoolStatus survey reveals impact of direct student communication on attendance and belonging

SACRAMENTO, CA, December [DATE], 2025—A new survey by the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) and SchoolStatus found that 56% of communication professionals who include students in school messages report attendance improvements, while 59% report increased student belonging.

The findings, detailed in the eBook “Students Are Listening. Are We Talking to Them?” highlight a missed opportunity: while 97% of K-12 districts regularly communicate with families about student progress, only 3% consistently include students in these communications.

“We’re talking around our students instead of with them,” said Dr. Kara Stern, Director of Education at SchoolStatus. “When students receive direct communication about their attendance or progress, they become active participants in their education rather than passive subjects of parent-school conversations.”

What Communication Professionals Report

Survey respondents who include students in their communication strategies shared consistent outcomes:

Including students improves attendance. Among professionals who send attendance notifications directly to students, 56% report measurable improvements. Students who receive these messages understand their school notices and values their presence.

Student voices increase belonging. When districts feature student stories and perspectives in communications, 59% of professionals report students feel more connected to their school community.

Direct communication strengthens family engagement. Nearly half (45%) of professionals say family engagement improves when students receive school communications alongside their parents. Students help interpret and advocate for school initiatives at home.

Practical Tools for Implementation

The eBook provides specific resources for districts ready to include students:

• Student connection audit templates to assess current communication practices
• Story-sharing forms to gather authentic student voices
• Step-by-step implementation guides based on successful district examples
• Sample message templates for different grade levels and situations

“Our goal is simple: more kids in class, period,” said Dr. Stern. “These tools help districts make a simple but powerful shift from talking about students to talking with them.”

The complete eBook, “Students Are Listening. Are We Talking to Them?”, is available for free at schoolstatus.com/students-listening.

Media Contact:
Annmarie Ely, Senior Strategist
0to5 for SchoolStatus
267.454.4686
[email protected]