The 50% Challenge Step 3: Crafting a State Road Map

Prioritize Route(s)

To arrive at the destination (or achieve the chronic absence reduction goal), states will need to identify and prioritize the major routes (or strategies) that will support substantial and sustained improvement in attendance. A major route is a strategy that the state team and key partners believe can make a huge impact on improving student engagement and attendance. The routes must also be worth the investment of scarce time, money and personnel. Keep in mind: choosing a major route requires a careful assessment of challenges, needs and available assets.

States will likely need multiple routes. Together, a state’s roster of routes should be enough to achieve the bold but achievable goal of reducing chronic absence by 50% in 5 years.

Possible state routes for improving engagement and attendance

Based upon our experience in working with states and hundreds of districts, gathering insights into likely causes of chronic absenteeism post-pandemic and analysis of available research, we suggest the five major routes (below) as possible state priorities. (Route information is under development).

  • Family Engagement
  • Student Connectedness
  • Relevant And Engaging Learning
  • Health, Well-Being and Safety
  • Access to Learning

These routes reflect the growing understanding that reducing chronic absence requires a tiered approach that begins with prevention and early intervention, including a deep investment in the positive conditions for learning that motivate students and families to show up to school every day. Research shows that the key to improving attendance is not punitive action but partnering with students and their families to identify what causes them to miss school and develop meaningful solutions to overcoming those challenges.

Click on each route above for more information about what it is, why it matters, as well as the available research and guidance for determining whether it fits as a state major route. When considering a route, consider the following questions.

    • Would a greater investment in this route make a difference given qualitative insights from students, families, educators and community partners as well as available quantitative data?
    • What assets can be built upon?
    • Do our policies support this concept? What are counterproductive policies? What are reinforcing policies?
Explore The 50% Challenge: Crafting a State Road Map