District outlines attendance strategy after drop to 67%; board asks for more resources and advocacy

District staff presented a multipart update on attendance, saying the current district attendance rate is about 67% (roughly 1 percentage point above the state average) and that the district’s goal is to reach 80% within three years.

Staff described a layered approach to interventions: same-day parent notifications, staged letters, positive incentives (school-based rewards, postcards and weekly drawings), care calls, teacher check-ins, academic plans, family attendance meetings and referrals to community partners such as the juvenile department for severe cases. Staff explained that a student is dropped from enrollment and ADM when absent 10 consecutive days, and that chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% of the school year (about 13.5 days).

Board members noted the loss of a prior truancy-court partnership and urged district staff to pursue additional advocacy and community partnerships to restore effective supports. Staff said they would continue to expand local partnerships, refine communications and return with updates and data.