Glasgow Middle reports chronic absenteeism down from 18% to about 8–9%

A presenter from Glasgow Middle School told the meeting that chronic absenteeism fell sharply after the school implemented coordinated supports. "When I arrived at Glasgow Middle School last January, our chronic absenteeism rate was 18 percent," the presenter said. "And today, I'm so proud to report that we hover between 8 and 9 percent."

The presenter credited the change to a schoolwide approach she described as "rooted in connection," combining a Systems of Support Advisor (SOSA), regular teacher check-ins and targeted after-school cohorts. She said those components helped students recover attendance hours, rebuild confidence and return to class. School staff also focused on safety, smoother transitions and setting higher expectations to reinforce attendance improvements.

School leaders said the gains have been sustained since spring and that the team continues to evaluate a multi-tiered process to make the progress lasting. The presenter emphasized that the approach combined student-facing supports, family outreach and teacher-led interventions rather than relying on any single tactic.