Turning Attendance Data into Family Action
This district cut chronic absenteeism in half. Learn how they used student insights and early action to reach families and change outcomes.
One year ago, Arvin Union School District’s chronic absenteeism rate was approaching 14%. Today it’s under 7% and still falling. Overall attendance reached 97.1%, and average absences per student dropped by more than half.
In this on-demand EdWeek webinar, leaders from Arvin Union share how they used attendance data to identify families who needed support, uncover barriers to attendance, and build stronger family partnerships before students became chronically absent.
Take a sneak peek:
Turning Attendance Data into Family Action
This district cut chronic absenteeism in half. Learn how they used student insights and early action to reach families and change outcomes.
Join our conversation with EdWeek
& Arvin Union to learn:
- How Arvin Union used early warning signs in attendance data to identify the families who most need support and prioritized outreach
- How school leaders uncovered the real barriers keeping students from attending regularly
- How to shift from compliance to partnership to help schools build stronger relationships with families
Meet the Speakers
Ricardo Salinas Jr. proudly serves the same community that shaped him. Since beginning his career in education in 2003, he has remained committed to supporting students, families, and school communities. After earning his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from CSU Bakersfield and a Master’s in Educational Administration, he served as a teacher and vice principal before becoming Principal of Bear Mountain Elementary in 2023. He believes that when educators, families, and communities work together, students have the support they need to thrive.
Sarai Kress has served Arvin Union School District for 18 years in roles supporting students and families. She previously worked as a Site Coordinator for the after-school program, a Resource Specialist Teacher, and an Independent Studies Clerk. Today she leads the district’s Parent Ambassador program, focusing on building strong partnerships between schools and families and empowering parents as active partners in their children’s education.
Raised in Arvin, Amelia Azpitarte is proud to serve the community that shaped her. She graduated from Bakersfield College with a degree in Human Services and has worked in education for nearly two decades. Today she supports students and families as a Student Success Facilitator at Bear Mountain Elementary, helping ensure students have the support and opportunities they need to succeed in school.
As the Senior Customer Success Manager at SchoolStatus, Brenda Tapp is in constant conversations with the school and district staff who are tasked with improving student attendance. With over 2 decades of experience in overseeing daily operations and leading high-performing intervention and technical training teams, Brenda has honed her expertise in attendance management and interventions. She actively participates with the State Attendance Review Board, serving as liaison with district leaders and collaborating with IT and front-line staff to implement best practices and achieve remarkable attendance goals.