Stockton Unified reports drop in chronic absenteeism, outlines Saturday school and SARB plans

Stockton Unified’s Director of Admissions, Child Welfare and Attendance, Ryan Hesse, told the Board of Trustees the district has reduced chronic absenteeism to 26.17% (mid‑January), down from 35.88% two years earlier, and described a multi‑tier plan that includes earlier identification, home visits and Saturday remediation sessions.

Hesse said chronic absenteeism is defined in education code as missing 10% or more of enrolled days and that the district’s counting includes excused and unexcused absences, out‑of‑school suspensions and non‑ADA independent study where students do not complete required work. Staff logged 114 home visits during an executive‑cabinet outreach event; 72 contacts were made and follow‑up connected families to resources.

To address absenteeism, the district will pilot Saturday School on three dates (Feb. 1, Feb. 22 and March 8). Hesse said students must attend 240 minutes to make up one day of ADA; sites will offer themes (SIPs, STEAM) and grab‑and‑go meals. Staffing ratios were specified: teacher to student 1:24 and one CSA per 150 students.

Hesse described case‑management steps: automated truancy letters at the third, sixth and ninth day of absence, student attendance review team meetings modeled on SST processes, school‑level mitigation meetings with community supports and a SARB (School Attendance Review Board) process to intervene before juvenile court referral. He also said the district is in early talks with the district attorney’s office to have a deputy attend mitigation meetings and SARB hearings as a supportive resource.

Trustees asked about parent attendance at mitigation meetings and whether the DA’s participation might be punitive. Hesse said turnout is “lower than we want” and that the DA’s office intends to be proactive and supportive, not punitive; the board discussed safeguards and vetting before formalizing the approach.

Hesse also flagged Stockton High as a site with high absenteeism tied to independent study reporting where non‑submission counts as an absence; he said staff are monitoring practices there.

Next steps: staff will continue data chats with principals to identify effective attendance practices, run the Saturday School pilot and finalize coordination with community partners and the DA’s office.

Representative quote: “In just that two hours, we logged 114 home visits and we made successful, 72 contacts,” Hesse said. “Currently we’re at 26.17% ... so we’re making some progress, but we still have work to do.”