Portland SD 1J outlines three‑part plan to address chronic absenteeism; early data show modest gains
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Summary
Senior directors Chandra Cooper and Naomi Orem presented three district strategies—strengthening school climate, attendance data teams and communications—reporting a point‑in‑time 2.3% increase to 74.24% as of Dec. 19 and highlighting Roseway Heights’ 8.7% gain as an example.
Chandra Cooper, senior director for core enrichment and MTSS, and Naomi Orem, assistant director for MTSS and the district’s attendance lead, presented an update on chronic absenteeism and the district’s 2025‑26 attendance goal to the Teaching, Learning and Enrollment Committee on Jan. 8.
Cooper said the district convened a chronic absenteeism project last winter that included building leaders, attendance coaches, counselors and social workers to identify root causes and promising interventions. Based on that work and a national Panorama study, the district adopted three evidence‑based strategies: (1) strengthen schoolwide climate and SEL instruction (Tier 1); (2) implement data‑driven attendance teams that match tiered supports to root causes; and (3) a proactive communications plan for families and communities.
Naomi said the district’s attendance dashboard updates daily and that the district has already rolled out training and coaching: 31 schools participated in attendance‑team training and 23 schools received on‑site coaching this year. As of Dec. 19, Naomi said a point‑in‑time increase of 2.3 percent raised overall attendance to 74.24 percent and 59 schools had increased or maintained overall attendance. The district sets a 2025‑26 goal to increase overall attendance by 5 percent and to increase focal‑group attendance by 8 percent; Naomi said focal groups (per state guidance) include multilingual learners, Black/native students, students with disabilities and students experiencing poverty.
Presenters highlighted Roseway Heights as a school example with an 8.7 percent point‑in‑time gain and detailed the concrete actions used there: a climate team that provides monthly professional learning, teacher coaching and targeted SEL practices. District communicators have created monthly messaging and an attendance YouTube playlist and have elevated promising practices from schools including Peninsula, Woodlawn, Roosevelt and Jefferson.
Directors questioned whether automated attendance messages could be insensitive when sent on religious holidays; Naomi said district automated messages do not send when absences are marked excused and staff will review messaging tone. Directors also raised transportation as an attendance barrier (including recent TriMet service cuts), special‑education transportation reliability, and impacts on multilingual families tied to recent ICE activity. Presenters said teams coordinate with SUN partners, culturally specific community organizations and site PTAs to address barriers and that some schools have adopted walking buses and other local supports.
The committee requested continued reporting and more disaggregated data over time; no formal board action was taken at the meeting.