District reports drop in chronic absenteeism, outlines Saturday school and SARB plan

Stockton Unified’s director of admissions, Ryan Hesse, told the board that the district’s overall chronic absenteeism rate fell from 35.88% in 2022–23 to 32.73% in 2023–24 and described targeted interventions the district will pilot this year.

Hesse defined chronic absenteeism under Education Code 60901(c)(1) as missing 10% or more of school days and explained that absences counted toward the rate include excused and unexcused absences, out-of-school suspensions and certain non–ADA-generating independent study. He presented district-level data showing 45 of the district’s 52 monitored schools reduced their rates last year.

To continue progress, Hesse outlined a four-part strategy: Saturday school (to make up instructional time and provide enrichment, with minimum minute thresholds and meal/transport supports), the School Attendance Review Board (SARB) process for higher-risk students, expanded in-school interventions and deliberate school-culture work to improve students’ sense of belonging.

Hesse said site-level teams will implement tiered interventions (MTSS attendance supports) and the district’s CWA attendance teams will coordinate resources and data-driven monitoring. Trustees asked for details about Saturday programming and community partnerships; Hesse said Saturday offerings will mix academics and enrichment to increase student buy-in and that the district will invite community organizations to participate.

What’s next: Hesse said the department will work with school sites this fall to roll out the quarterly initiatives and training referenced in the presentation and will monitor changes by school in upcoming reports.