New Report Reveals Critical Turning Point in Student Attendance Patterns
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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 ISDResearch demonstrates that family support for language and literacy activities at home is positively related to children’s outcomes, including reading acquisition, language, vocabulary learning, conceptual development, and literacy achievement.Partnering with Families for Early Language and Literacy: Research-based Strategies for Early Childhood Educators – 2nd Edition
B.J., Cunningham, P.D., Bachman, H.F. & Wellman, M.E.Having 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 ISDFor us, SchoolStatus is a data warehouse where we can see the whole child. If we’re doing an MTSS process on a student, I can see attendance, discipline, grades, test scores, and what kind of engagement educators have had with the parent — all in one place.Pamela Dillard
Director of Technology, Greenville Public SchoolsSchoolStatus 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
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Working at SchoolStatus is an incredible experience—our supportive team culture creates an environment where I feel valued and inspired. The company prioritizes both personal happiness and professional growth.Dr. Stephanie Walters
Customer Lifecycle Marketing ManagerI 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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From Compliance to Impact: How California Districts Are Turning Attendance Insight Into Action
TL; DR:
Every absence has a story.
The districts making the strongest gains in attendance are the ones uncovering that story early enough to change it.
In a recent CASCWA webinar, leaders from San Lorenzo USD and Garden Grove USD shared how they use early identification, targeted outreach, and documented follow-up to drive measurable improvements in chronic absenteeism.
Their results show what is possible when attendance work is grounded in insight and aligned across teams.
Early Insight Drives Meaningful Action
Across 172 districts and 1.3 million students, we analyzed attendance data alongside 3.3 million school-to-home messages.
One pattern stood out: The first intervention has the greatest impact.
When districts identify students trending toward chronic absenteeism and reach out early, attendance improves at significantly higher rates. Early visibility creates the opportunity to act with purpose.
Attendance teams can focus on the students and families who need support most, at the moment it matters most.
Families Respond to Relevant Outreach
The data also revealed something powerful about family engagement: 73% of families respond within seven days. The median reply time was eleven minutes.
Families engage when outreach feels timely and meaningful.
When educators have insight into student trends, they can reach out with clarity. Those conversations build trust and strengthen partnership.
San Lorenzo USD: Shared Language, Shared Responsibility
San Lorenzo USD serves 7,700 students in Northern California. Over the past year, the district:
- Sent more than 20,000 targeted communications
- Delivered over 23,000 positive attendance messages
- Achieved a 55 percent SaveRate (students who do not need a second intervention)
- Reduced chronic absenteeism by 10 percent
Their strategy centers on alignment.
Attendance teams, counselors, administrators, and campus staff work from shared expectations. Early indicators guide outreach. Messaging is consistent across sites. Progress is documented and reviewed.
Attendance improvement becomes part of the district culture.
Garden Grove USD: Tiered Systems With Measurable Results
Garden Grove USD serves 39,000 students and operates within a clearly defined tiered attendance framework.
Their outcomes include:
- A 63 percent district SaveRate
- More than 71,000 positive targeted messages sent
- An overall chronic absenteeism reduction of nearly 12 percentage points
Prevention, early identification, and intensive intervention are structured and coordinated. Family Resource Centers extend support beyond school walls. Outreach is tracked and refined over time.
Insight leads. Action follows.
Focus on What Matters Most
Across both districts, one theme remained consistent.
Attendance improvement starts with knowing which students need support most, early enough to make a difference.
When educators have meaningful insight into trends and patterns, outreach becomes focused and timely. Documentation makes progress visible. Teams refine strategy with confidence.
This is how attendance systems evolve from activity to impact.
What You Will Gain From Watching
This session goes beyond high-level trends.
You will learn:
- How early indicators help identify students at risk
- What statewide response patterns reveal about engagement
- How two districts operationalized attendance strategy
- Practical next steps you can implement immediately
If your district is working to strengthen attendance systems and deepen family partnership, this conversation offers both evidence and direction.
FAQ
What are effective chronic absenteeism solutions?
Effective solutions begin with early identification of students at risk, followed by focused outreach and tiered intervention. Districts that combine attendance data insights with meaningful family communication see stronger improvements.
Why does early attendance intervention matter?
Early intervention has the greatest impact on changing attendance trajectories. When districts act on early indicators, they create the opportunity to support families before patterns become entrenched.
How can districts use attendance data insights more effectively?
Districts can use attendance data to identify trends, prioritize outreach, and track outcomes over time. Clear documentation allows teams to refine strategy and demonstrate measurable progress.
How does family engagement impact attendance?
Families respond when communication is timely and relevant. Meaningful outreach strengthens trust and increases the likelihood of improved attendance outcomes.
Dr. Kara SternDirector, Education and Engagement
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.
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