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Palm Springs Unified reports falling chronic absenteeism, highlights Project Path for foster youth
Summary
District student services staff told the Board of Education on Oct. 14 that chronic absenteeism has decreased since the pandemic and outlined targeted steps — including Project Path, attendance 'bubble' interventions and expanded prevention specialists — to keep students in class.
Palm Springs Unified School District student services staff reported to the Board of Education on Oct. 14 that districtwide chronic absenteeism has fallen and described targeted programs aimed at keeping students in class.
At the meeting, Garrett Shepperjohn, coordinator of student services, said attendance and chronic absenteeism metrics are “improving.” He told the board the district’s chronic absenteeism rate has dropped roughly 10 percent since the pandemic and declined 7 percent from 2023–24 to last year.
The update centered on four parts of an attendance strategy: campus climate, attendance tracking, make-up programs (Saturday school and short-term independent study) and formal review boards (SART and SARB). Shepperjohn described a new focus on “bubble” students — those who missed about 10–13 percent of school days last year (roughly 18–21 days) and are at…
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