The National Dropout Prevention Center (NDPC) supports schools with targeted resources and strategies to address attendance challenges. These efforts strengthen student engagement, improve outcomes, and contribute to higher graduation rates by reinforcing the critical role consistent attendance plays in student success.
Dr. Bill Daggett, Founder & Executive Chair, SPN
Nationwide students who were chronically absent before the pandemic
Nearly one in seven students met the threshold for chronic absenteeism.
That’s the benchmark used to classify a student as chronically absent.
Build a district strategy to reduce chronic absenteeism. The Attendance Improvement Institute provides district teams with a structured process to analyze attendance data, identify root causes of chronic absenteeism, and build a focused strategy for improving attendance.
Targeted analysis, practical planning, and hands-on support to help schools identify barriers to attendance and take action that leads to measurable improvement.
On-site analysis of current truancy issues and current practices to include data analysis, interviews, and observations.
Generation of a locally specific report on root causes, effective/ineffective practices, and recommended next steps
Conduct local data analysis to identify truant sub-populations and trends
Assist local leaders to form school-site Attendance Taskforces
Guide the inventory and analysis of existing attendance improvement initiatives
Advise leaders and Taskforces on selecting and designing high-impact attendance actions
Monitor and evaluate implementation and provide periodic effectiveness reports
Support implementation of the locally developed attendance improvement plan
NDPC consultants and team members deliver engaging keynote presentations and interactive in-person or virtual trainings focused on improving attendance. Sessions help participants understand attendance challenges through data and explore practical strategies they can apply within their own schools or systems.
Should you wish to explore further the range of offerings and services we provide for attendance improvement, please fill out the form or send us an email at ndpc@dropoutprevention.org.
In October 2023, NDPC released a new practice guide, Guiding Principles for Improving School Attendance at no cost to schools, districts, and states desiring to use a structured process for attendance improvement. This detailed tool includes an introduction to research-based best practices as well as a self-assessment instrument to help guide decisions related to improving attendance.
