Topic Relevance: Since COVID, chronic absenteeism in public schools has doubled, rising from 15% in 2019 to 30% (~15 million students) in 2024. Absences lower GPAs, increase dropout risks, and enhance the likelihood of negative post-graduation outcomes such as unemployment, substance abuse, and legal issues. Teachers also face added strain, adjusting curricula to accommodate absent students, disrupting lesson flow. This crisis is particularly severe in economically disadvantaged communities.
Participant Value: Federal attendance programs have been developed and proven to consistently improve student attendance, but require significant resources, limiting accessibility for many schools. Schools attempting independent programs often find them costly, complex, and ineffective due to delayed or inconsistent rewards. This session will highlight a proven, research-backed attendance reward system that is:
• 100% free for schools, students, parents, and teachers • Seamlessly integrated into existing attendance procedures • Designed to engage parents in fostering strong attendance habits
By implementing this system, schools can improve attendance, boost student morale and performance, and potentially increase funding opportunities.
Presenter Knowledge & Experience: Having witnessed the long-term consequences of absenteeism among family, friends, and students, I pursued solutions while earning my Ph.D. in Psychology. Over the past five years, my team has developed and refined a data-driven attendance improvement system, collaborating with over 120 administrators, 60 teachers, 500 students, and 75 parents to help design and refine the platform. This extensive engagement ensures our approach is effective, scalable, and ready for implementation in diverse educational settings.
