CFBISD outlines home visits, truancy tribunal and digital tools to reduce chronic absenteeism
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Summary
Carrollton‑Farmers Branch ISD presented an attendance plan that pairs data dashboards, home‑visit teams and a truancy tribunal aimed at lowering chronic absenteeism and building on a 1% attendance gain that previously generated about $1.2 million in additional revenue.
Carrollton‑Farmers Branch ISD officials on Oct. 3 outlined a multi‑pronged attendance initiative that combines digital reporting, outreach and court‑adjacent interventions intended to lower chronic absenteeism and improve student outcomes.
Dr. Hamlin, describing the district’s September work to increase daily attendance, said the district currently registers a 95.4% average daily attendance and is pursuing “one more 1% gain” this year. He told trustees the district had previously realized roughly $1.2 million in additional revenue from a 1% attendance improvement and emphasized that improved attendance correlates with higher academic performance.
The plan centers on five core actions: district and campus‑level monitoring using an attendance dashboard and letter‑run calendar; expanded parent communication via ParentSquare; recognition incentives for strong attendance; personalized outreach including bilingual home‑visit teams (70 home visits in September at the secondary level); and a newly established truancy tribunal to work with families before cases move into county courts.
Dr. Hamlin said the truancy tribunal targets families with repeated absences and that the district had already issued about 350 summonses to households with seven or more absences. He described the tribunal as a prevention step intended to keep students out of the formal legal system and to provide targeted supports — counseling, schedule adjustments or other services — to restore school attendance.
Trustees asked for details about access and equity. One trustee asked how families without internet can use the new online absence report; Hamlin said the district accepts handwritten notes and telephone reporting and that clerks will still process those reports. Another trustee asked about language availability for the digital form; Hamlin said the system provides several language translation options but did not specify the exact number of languages.
The presentation included examples of how campuses have recognized students ("principal for a day") and how the district pairs Attendance Office dashboards with direct outreach. The superintendent and trustees said they will continue to monitor metrics and that the district aims to expand home visits to elementary campuses as needed.
Next steps: staff will continue monthly home‑visit rounds, refine the letter‑run schedule and bring additional attendance data to the board in subsequent reports.
