88th Annual CASCWA State Conference

Proactive attendance strategies and early interventions are vital for fostering student success. This session will focus on identifying at risk patterns of chronic absenteeism early in the school year and implementing best practices to promote consistent attendance. Attendees will gain practical tools aligned with CASCWA’s mission to enhance equity, integrate multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and strengthen engagement with students and families. Designed for school and district administrators, support staff, and communities, this workshop provides actionable insights to help districts achieve their Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) goals while expanding professional learning communities across California and beyond.

This presentation will give site and District administrators the tools to develop defensible ways to limit interdistrict transfers when allowing such transfers will cause an impact to programs.  We will explore discrimination issues, staffing issues and appeals to County Office.

Effective attendance management is a cornerstone of student achievement and school success. This workshop provides school leaders, attendance teams, and support staff with the tools and strategies necessary to enhance attendance protocols, reduce chronic absenteeism, and foster a culture of engagement and accountability.

Participants will learn how to streamline attendance tracking processes, develop clear and actionable policies, and leverage data to identify trends and intervene early. The session will include best practices for building strong communication channels with families, cultivating collaborative partnerships, and integrating technology to optimize efficiency.

Through interactive discussions and hands-on exercises, attendees will leave equipped to implement practical, scalable solutions that improve attendance rates and support student success.

The program has achieved a 75% increase in school-wide attendance and boosted family engagement through Parent Connect programs offered in English and Spanish, providing psychoeducation and community support. The grant has also enabled proactive support for incoming students at feeder middle schools and extended services to high school students and their siblings, even before enrollment. This program plays a pivotal role in restorative and preventive efforts to holistically support students and families.

Every missed school day is a lost opportunity, yet most attendance strategies fail because they rely on compliance over connection. In this session, Hugo Lopez will reveal how Ontario-Montclair School District cracked the code using a data-driven systems approach that doesn’t just track absences—it changes behaviors. Through real-world success stories and practical strategies, you’ll learn how to design an attendance system that engages families, mitigates barriers, and transforms outcomes.