How Sanger USD Cut Chronic Absenteeism by 2.8 Points Through Latino Family Engagement
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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 ISDHaving 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
Assistant Superintendent, Galena Park ISDSchoolStatus 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
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Absences to Impact: Why October Is the Moment That Matters Most
TL; DR
If you’re a district or school leader, there’s a window of time to change your attendance trajectory—and it’s right now. In our October 22 webinar, Dr. Kara Stern and Dr. Michelle Fry unpacked why October is the month that matters most, how absenteeism is costing districts millions, and what leading districts are doing to turn the tide. We’ve got the most powerful moments queued up for you. If you’re making attendance a priority, this is 30 minutes you can’t afford to miss.
October: Your Most Strategic Month All Year
“You have enough data to spot patterns—and still enough time to change outcomes.” That was Dr. Kara Stern’s message to district leaders during our October 22 webinar. By October, attendance trends are no longer hypothetical. They’re real, and the clock is ticking.
It depends on your funding formula, but Dr. Fry walked through a conservative estimate: 800 fewer absences = $45,000 protected for a school with a $5M budget. Scale that to a district level, and the stakes are significant.Dr. Stern laid out the case: districts that intervene now can dramatically shift both student outcomes and fiscal outlooks. Wait too long, and the patterns become entrenched, not to mention costly.
The Real Cost of Absenteeism? Lost Students and Lost Funding
23.5% of students nationwide were chronically absent last year. That’s nearly 1 in 4. And every absence hits harder than many realize. Dr. Michelle Fry explained how just 800 absences at a single school can drain $45,000 from a $5 million budget.
What’s more, punitive interventions aren’t working. The most successful districts are moving away from compliance-only tactics and investing in early, positive engagement strategies.
Proof: It’s Working in SchoolStatus Districts
While most districts are still climbing out of a post-pandemic attendance crisis, SchoolStatus partner districts are seeing real progress. Chronic absenteeism among these partners dropped from 21.9% to 20.9% in a single year. That’s 1 in 5 students, or in real numbers, 15,000 students reconnected with school.
The secret? Early alerts. Automated communication. Respectful, consistent family engagement.
Key Moves You Can Make This Week
- Use October data to identify students trending toward chronic absenteeism
- Automate outreach to save staff time and increase consistency
- Send positive messages to build trust and reinforce attendance gains
- Log every contact to ensure compliance and demonstrate effort
FAQ
What makes October such a critical month for attendance intervention?
It’s the first point in the school year when districts have real data to spot patterns—and enough time to do something about it before trends become chronic. Intervene now, and you can change outcomes for students and budgets.
We’ve tried attendance letters. Why aren’t they working?
Compliance letters alone don’t build trust. What works is a proactive system that combines early alerts, consistent documentation, and positive communication families actually engage with.
What’s the financial impact of absenteeism for a district like mine?
It depends on your funding formula, but Dr. Fry walked through a conservative estimate: 800 fewer absences = $45,000 protected for a school with a $5M budget. Scale that to a district level, and the stakes are significant.
SchoolStatusSchoolStatus connects educators and families around the topics that matter most. The company partners with K–12 districts to improve attendance, engage families, and build trust so students can succeed. A recognized leader in data-driven attendance and family engagement solutions, SchoolStatus enables districts and educators to engage families with relevant, timely communications and proactive support on important topics including absenteeism, literacy progress, and overall student readiness. Today, SchoolStatus supports districts in all 50 states and serves more than 22 million students nationwide as a trusted partner in driving better student outcomes.
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