Transforming Attendance: How Data-Driven Family Engagement Gets Results

“I thought we were going to have 115% attendance when we came back after the pandemic. And it was actually the opposite.” 

This candid observation from Jessica Bull, Executive Director of Communication at Roseville City School District, captures what districts nationwide discovered as schools reopened: attendance challenges weren’t going away—they were intensifying.

The data confirms this reality. Chronic absenteeism rates still hover at 26% in the 2022-23 school year, nearly double pre-pandemic levels. This means one in four students is missing enough school to significantly impact their academic future.

Despite universal concern about this issue, our 2024 Educator Report uncovered a troubling disconnect: while 77% of educators consider school-home communication “critical” for improving outcomes, only 25% find it “very easy” to connect with families. 

This gap between intention and implementation helps explain why attendance problems persist.

Key Challenges in Attendance & Family Engagement

Our research with educators reveals a concerning pattern: most schools address attendance only after it becomes a problem. 

In fact, just 37% of schools regularly communicate with families about the importance of attendance, while the majority—58%—reach out only after absences accumulate. This reactive approach misses crucial opportunities for prevention. Further complicating matters, educators often struggle to confirm whether their communications even reach families. Nearly half (43%) report uncertainty about message reception, and almost a third contend with language barriers that make meaningful engagement difficult. 

Meanwhile, YouthTruth data shows only 42% of students feel connected to their school community, creating a perfect storm for attendance problems: when students don’t feel they belong, showing up becomes much less important to them.

District Success Stories:
Data-Driven Solutions that Work

Districts that have successfully reversed attendance trends share three common strategies:

1. Real-Time Data to Drive Early Intervention

Roseville City USD transformed their paper-based processes into a digital system providing immediate visibility into attendance patterns. “We had no way to quickly see who hasn’t been at school,” explained Attendance Supervisor Kim Peterson. “Now we can identify who those students are, who are the outliers, who are the groups that are right on that edge.” 

Results: Chronic absenteeism dropped from 18% to 10% in two years. 

2. Streamlined, Consistent Family Communication

Grand Prairie ISD eliminated their “time-consuming and cumbersome” manual processes by implementing automated but personalized communication systems. 

Results: 32% “save rate” for students at risk of chronic absenteeism and 23% improvement in conference effectiveness. 

3. Multilingual, Accessible Outreach

Prince William County Public Schools addressed communication barriers with diverse families through automated translation features and multiple communication channels.

Results: 97% of teachers feel better equipped to meet student needs, and 75% of students who received one attendance letter showed immediate improvement. 

The ROI of Improved Attendance

A 2023 study found that schools with strong family engagement before the pandemic experienced significantly better outcomes after, including:

• 39% smaller rise in chronic absenteeism
• 37% smaller decline in math proficiency
• 27% smaller decline in ELA proficiency 

While the national chronic absence rate improved by just 8.54% from 2021-22 to 2022-23, districts using integrated data and communication platforms saw improvements of 22.23%. 

Taking Action: Next Steps for District Leaders

Districts looking to improve attendance and family engagement should focus on:

1. Implementing real-time data systems that flag attendance concerns early
2. Automating routine communications while personalizing follow-up
3. Ensuring accessibility for all families through translation and multiple channels

These aren’t just theories—they’re practical approaches that real districts have used to turn around concerning attendance trends. Leaders considering technology to support attendance efforts could look to tools that solve actual day-to-day challenges, and  systems that provide real-time visibility so no one is working with last month’s data. Consider whether the platform integrates communication capabilities

Lastly, pay attention to whether the solution can help identify emerging attendance issues before they become chronic problems, as early awareness is often the key to successful intervention.

Choosing the Right Attendance & Engagement Technology

Selecting the right technology helps districts improve attendance while saving time and resources. Key features to look for include:

• Real-time Attendance Tracking: Provides instant data to prevent delayed interventions
• Integrated Communication Tools: Combines multiple communication methods into one platform
• Predictive Analytics: Identifies at-risk students early for proactive support
• Two-way Communication: Enables direct family engagement without extra apps
• Translation Capabilities: Ensures messages reach all families
• Customizable Dashboards: Offers clear insights into district-wide trends

Next Steps for District Leaders:

The data is clear: improving attendance isn’t just about tracking absences—it’s about strengthening family connections and identifying challenges early. Districts that take a proactive, data-driven approach are seeing measurable improvements, from lower absenteeism rates to better academic outcomes.

Addressing attendance challenges doesn’t require starting from scratch. Proven strategies—real-time data, consistent outreach, and accessible communication—are already working in schools nationwide. The key is taking that first step.

To help your district move forward, we’ve developed several practical resources:

• Attendance Goal-Setting Worksheet – Set clear, data-backed attendance targets
• On-Demand Webinar Series – Hear directly from district leaders who have successfully improved attendance
• ROI Calculator – See the potential impact of better attendance tracking and family engagement on your district’s resources

These tools can help you assess where you are today—and take meaningful action to improve student outcomes as soon as tomorrow.