This session will describe a strategic framework for reducing chronic absenteeism, which resulted in a 31% reduction in chronic absenteeism at the elementary level of a Central Valley school district within 18 months. Utilized in a second Central Valley School district, chronic absenteeism was reduced in the 2025-26 school year to 7%. These districts implemented a proactive, data-driven approach that combines actionable attendance data, early warning indicators, and targeted intervention strategies designed to identify and address barriers to student attendance.
This session will also highlight how districts can leverage real-time attendance data systems such as Ed-Link, to identify students at risk for chronic absenteeism and deploy timely interventions. Data dashboards allow school teams to monitor attendance patterns, identify trends, and implement targeted recovery strategies before absenteeism becomes entrenched.
Participants will also explore flexible attendance recovery strategies that districts can implement to support students in recovering lost instructional time, including:
- One-Day Independent Study (IS)
- Short-Term Independent Study
- Attendance recovery opportunities through before- and after-school programs
- Saturday academies designed to provide additional instructional time and engagement
