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Paramount Unified reports improving attendance; sets 95% year‑goal
Summary
District presenters told the board chronic absenteeism rose during the pandemic and has declined faster than the state; last year Paramount's chronic absentee rate was about 23% and the district's year‑to‑date attendance was 94.4% on Oct. 9; the 2024–25 goal is 95%.
District staff presented attendance data and the district’s multi‑tiered attendance strategy at the Oct. 9 meeting, stressing prevention, early intervention and intensive supports for chronically absent students.
Dr. Ganda and Dr. Katanda described a district attendance task force and MTSS‑based tiers of work: universal prevention messaging and incentives (Tier 1), targeted data‑driven interventions and home visits (Tier 2), and individualized intensive supports including social‑worker involvement and School Attendance Review Board referrals (Tier 3). They emphasized site‑level engagement, parent education and data tools to guide interventions.
Presenters cited historical trends: statewide chronic absenteeism rose to about 30% after the pandemic and decreased to 24.3% last year, while Paramount’s chronic absentee rate peaked higher (about 42.4% during the pandemic) but has declined more quickly; Paramount’s chronic absentee rate was reported at about 23% last year and the district’s year‑to‑date attendance as of Oct. 9 was 94.4%. The district’s goal for 2024–25 is a 95% average daily attendance rate.
Staff described concrete supports: attendance action plans, school‑specific goals in SPSAs, communications templates for families, training for principals and deans, and a district schedule of task‑force reviews (January and March) to monitor progress. Presenters said reductions in chronic absenteeism are reflected across subgroups though some remain in the orange category on state indicators and require continued attention.
Board members commended the communications and outreach work and asked about subgroup trends; staff said they will review subgroup data and continue targeted outreach and training.
