88th Annual CASCWA State Conference has ended

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88th Annual CASCWA State Conference

9:30am PDT

Chronic Absenteeism: A Psychosocial Perspective FILLING

Monday April 28, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am PDT

Santa Rosa Ballroom

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As we continue to analyze and evaluate various strategies to combat chronic absenteeism within our student populations, Micha Saenz and Gabby Britt review the multiple barriers to school attendance, vulnerable student populations, and how chronic stress contributes to chronic absenteeism. They will also provide in-depth and invaluable strategies to assist school districts in developing strategic plans to support their students in multiple domains. In this presentation, they will offer comprehensive school-wide approaches and interventions to support students by removing barriers, providing targeted support, and accessing necessary, school-based and community-based resources

Speakers

Gabby Britt

Social Worker, Kern High School District

I am a school social worker for the Kern High School District, housed at the district office. I am responsible for working with the McKinney-Vento students and families within the KHSD. I provide resources and facilitate linkage to assist students and families in meeting their... Read More →

Monday April 28, 2025 9:30am - 10:45am PDT
Santa Rosa Ballroom

Attendance

11:00am PDT

ICAN's Breakthrough Model: Reducing Chronic Absenteeism through an Improvement Network FILLING

Monday April 28, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm PDT

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Improving Chronic Absenteeism Network (ICAN) is a collaborative improvement model that makes use of an innovative network approach. Discover how school teams participating in a boots-on-the-ground “breakthrough” network has resulted in a remarkable decline in chronic absenteeism across multiple cohorts. Explore the improvement journey of ICAN and its far-reaching impact in re-connecting students to the school community. Learn from the San Diego County Office of Education innovative approach synergizing improvement methodology, tools, and adult mindsets within a network context to center on students and their lived experiences. A comprehensive session unraveling ICAN's groundbreaking approach and potential utility as a model to replicate.

Speakers

Tracy Schmidt

Director, San Diego County Office of Education

Todd Langager

Evaluation Coordinator, San Diego COE

Todd is an Evaluation Coordinator in the Assessment, Accountability, and Evaluation Department at the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE). Having worked at SDCOE since 2008, he supports and builds the capacity of district and site leaders to evaluate the effectiveness of... Read More →

Julia Bridi

Executive Leadership Coach, San Diego County Office of Education

Monday April 28, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm PDT
Catalina AII

Attendance

11:00am PDT

Promoting Attendance: Focused Data, Tiered Systems, and Equity-Minded Collaboration FULL

Monday April 28, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm PDT

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Attendance Matters! Strategies depend on your specific data and supports. Participants will review how a school with 80% English Learners, near the Mexican border, with 94% ADA supported growth to result in 97% ADA in four years. Participants will also see examples of tiered systems for different roles within a school site and district, to support students and help in improving ADA along with decreasing chronic absenteeism. Jorge Garcia has supported the attendance support requests, and Lisbeth has supported sites in middle school with attendance intervention, particularly when reaching tier 3 supports. Collaboration will be integrated, and strategies to consider equity and climate within the priority in attendance.

Speakers

Joan Faus, Ed.D.

Director, Student Support Services, Vista Unified School District

A leader, educator, and learner who has been in education since 2003. Before working within district leadership, Dr. Joan Faus was a 3rd- 8th-grade teacher, academic coach, grant coordinator, vice-principal, and two principalships. Joan has a love for equity with a focus on positivity... Read More →

Jorge Garcia

Secretary, Vista Unified School District

Lisbeth Soria Barrios

Social Worker, Vista Unified School District

Monday April 28, 2025 11:00am - 12:15pm PDT
Catalina AIII

Attendance

2:30pm PDT

Attendance: Ask The Experts: Model SARB Panel FILLING

Monday April 28, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm PDT

Santa Rosa Ballroom

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While chronic absenteeism has been a “hot topic” for the past few years, the pandemic thrust school attendance into the spotlight and pushed educational leaders to reexamine their systems of support in order to improve attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism rates. The Model School Attendance Review Board (SARB) Recognition Program identifies and recognizes outstanding and innovative multi-tiered school attendance improvement programs at the district or county level. This workshop will include a panel of Model SARB awardees who will share strategies and best practices for implementing multi-tiered systems of support for attendance and encouraging collaborative, non-punitive approaches to engaging with students and families.

Speakers

Jennifer Gomeztrejo

Co-founder, Educational Consultant, Student Support Services Solutions, Inc.

Student Support Services Solutions (S4) is an educational consulting group that provides coaching, training and technical support to school districts, parents, students and community members as it relates to the California Education Code and other laws affecting student services and... Read More →

Monday April 28, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm PDT
Santa Rosa Ballroom

Attendance

2:30pm PDT

Meaningful Shifts for High Impact Attendance Initiatives FILLING

Monday April 28, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm PDT

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Meaningful Shifts for High Impact Attendance Initiatives

Speakers

Jocie Wilson

Director of Student & Family Support Services, Glendora Unified School District

Emily Bailard

CEO, Every Day Labs

As CEO of EveryDay Labs, Emily is passionate about improving educational outcomes through data-driven interventions that promote positive behavior change. Before joining EveryDay Labs, she led teams at Opower, where she employed behavioral strategies to encourage energy conservation... Read More →

Monday April 28, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45pm PDT
Catalina A2

Attendance

8:30am PDT

Every Day Matters: A Systems Approach to Attendance and Engagement FILLING

Tuesday April 29, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am PDT

Feedback Survey

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.

Speakers

Hugo Lopez

Director, Child Welfare, Attendance & Récords, Ontario-Montlcair SD

Tuesday April 29, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am PDT
Catalina C2

Attendance

8:30am PDT

The Power of SART FILLING

Tuesday April 29, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am PDT

Santa Rosa Ballroom

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Learn how to make the most of a SART meeting at your site to explore barriers to attendance and engage students, staff, and family members in effectively identifying and committing to interventions to address barriers.

Speakers

Sasha Lubkin

TSA - Attendance, San Ramon Valley Unified School District

I am a California licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and hold a pupil personnel services credential for school social work as well as an administrative services credential. Prior to working in education, I provided case management and substance abuse treatment for parolees and... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am PDT
Santa Rosa Ballroom

Attendance

10:00am PDT

Attendance: MTSS Tiers of Intervention: Addressing Absenteeism in High School LIMITED

Tuesday April 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am PDT

Santa Rosa Ballroom

Feedback Survey

Taking a closer look into Sequoia Union High School District’s (SUHSD) planning and development of a secondary student engagement service structure. This session will include perspectives from both district and site levels on the development and implementation of SUHSD’s tiered interventions to address the often complicated barriers to high school student engagement. SUHSD is a 2024 Model SARB awardee.

Speakers

Jarrett Dooley

Executive Director of Student Services, Sequoia Union High School District

Mr. Dooley has served in the Student Services Department at SUHSD for eight years. He has previous experience as a principal, assistant principal, athletic director, teacher, and coach for grades 6-12. He brings over 20 years of education experience in his work with students and staff... Read More →

Shana Karashima

MTSS Coordinator, Sequoia Union High School District

Maribel Orozsco

Mental Health Caseworker, Sequoia Union High School District

Tuesday April 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am PDT
Santa Rosa Ballroom

Attendance

10:00am PDT

From Crisis to Success: How One District Cut Chronic Absenteeism in Half FILLING

Tuesday April 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am PDT

Catalina A1 and A2

Feedback Survey

When Roseville City School District saw chronic absenteeism spike from 6% to 26% after the pandemic, they knew they needed a transformative approach. In this interactive session, district leaders will share how they revolutionized their attendance processes, resulting in a dramatic 50% reduction in chronic absenteeism and a 4-point increase in ADA within just two years. Learn how they shifted from manual tracking to a data-driven system that empowered staff to have meaningful conversations about attendance. Presenters will detail their "Every Day Matters" campaign, showcase their communication approach for different grade levels, and demonstrate how they built a culture where all 1,300+ staff members are committed to attendance improvement. Walk away with practical strategies for implementing a similar transformation in your district.
Takeaways:

How to design and launch a differentiated attendance communication campaign that targets specific grade levels and attendance patterns with relevant messaging and support strategies
Practical steps for shifting attendance conversations from technical reporting to meaningful family support, including specific questions and talking points for staff to use during interventions
Strategies for building school-wide ownership of attendance goals, with examples of how to engage all staff members - from teachers to clerical staff - in consistent, data-informed attendance monitoring and intervention

Speakers

Erin Peterson

Director of Educational Services, Roseville City School District

Erin Peterson, M.Ed. is the Director of Educational Services for the Roseville City School District. In her current role, she oversees the implementation of Multi Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), including attendance practices and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS... Read More →

Brenda Tapp

Lead Customer Success Manager, SchoolStatus

SchoolStatus, the K-12 success platform, helps districts increase the quality and frequency of school-family communications and combat chronic absenteeism. With more than two hundred million successful school-home interactions and millions of users across all product lines, SchoolStatus... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am PDT
Catalina A1 and A2

Attendance

10:00am PDT

Reducing Truancy and Chronic Absence Through Collaborative Truancy Courts FILLING

Tuesday April 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am PDT

Feedback Survey

This presentation will lay out how to partner with schools and districts to first prevent and reduce truancy and chronic absence without law enforcement involvement. I will cover best practices, district-wide attendance messaging, and how to effectively communicate with parents about absences. I will also cover how to establish and run an effective collaborative truancy court, that both supports parents who are struggling with a crisis leading to their child's truancy, and encourages accountability of the parents in order to achieve improved attendance rates.

Speakers

Alisha Schoen

Santa Clara County District Attorney's Association

Alisha Schoen graduated from UCLA in 2005, after which she attended Stanford Law School, graduating in 2009. Alisha has experience in both the private and international sectors: she practiced civil defense work for two years before working for the Office of the Prosecutor at the... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am PDT
Catalina C2

Attendance

1:45pm PDT

SART and SARB - From Development, Training, Roll Out, and Implementation FILLING

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:45pm - 3:00pm PDT

Catalina A1 and A2

Feedback Survey

A student's truancy journey begins at their school site. We often have a well-established SARB process at the district level, but what preventative steps exist at the site level? Who do we engage? What does the SART process look like prior to the student being referred to the district-level SARB?

Next, we will explore the SARB process, which must follow various compliance aspects and there are many facets to a successful program. Participants will explore the legal aspects of SARB, learn step-by-step aspects of a successful SARB program, explore implementation procedures, and evaluate their site and/or district SARB process. Participants will walk away with tools to immediately implement when they return to their site and/or district.

Speakers

Steven France

Director, Acalanes Union High School District

Steven France brings 25 years of public school education at the high school and adult education levels. He began his career as a high school English and Leadership teacher in the Mt. Diablo Unified School District prior to his 2005 appointment as Vice Principal within the same district... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:45pm - 3:00pm PDT
Catalina A1 and A2

Attendance

1:45pm PDT

Understanding Section 504 LIMITED

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:45pm - 3:00pm PDT

Santa Rosa Ballroom

Feedback Survey

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a function of general education. As a result, many of the general education staff responsible for implementing the Section 504 requirements lack the specialized training typically associated with special education, even though there are comparable procedural requirements as those found in special education. This training provides an overview of the Section 504 process, including eligibility, assessment, and child find requirements. This training is ideal for Section 504 Coordinators and any staff responsible for implementing Section 504 at school sites.

Speakers

Dora Dome

Attorney at Law, Dora Dome Law

Dora J. Dome has practiced Education Law for over 28 years, primarily in the areas of student issues and special education. She currently provides legal representation to school districts on student issues and develops and conducts professional development trainings for district staff... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 1:45pm - 3:00pm PDT
Santa Rosa Ballroom

Attendance

3:15pm PDT

Growing Community: Increasing Connectedness for Oakland USD's McKinney Vento, Foster, and Newcomer Youth LIMITED

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm PDT

Catalina A1 and A2

Feedback Survey

System-impacted students need ways to build a sense of belonging, agency, and academic identity through meaningful relationships. However, many adult practices are disconnected from students’ best interests and are based on a system that is not designed for marginalized youth to successfully graduate. Upon recognizing this disconnect, Oakland Unified School District leaders came together across departments to address these issues and focus on equity.

This interactive presentation will offer experiential learning on OUSD’s journey by highlighting the value of student-centered design, exploring student-led research strategies to address chronic absenteeism, and unpacking student well-being and relationship data.

Speakers

Jerome Gourdine

Director of Targeted Strategies, Oakland USD

Jerome Gourdine has served the Oakland Unified School District for more than 27 years, as a teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, Program Manager and now Director of Targeted Strategies. Among his many accomplishments is receiving the 2007 MetLife Principal of the Year Award, a... Read More →

Dr. Zaia Vera

Executive of District Partnerships and Impact, Sown To Grow

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm PDT
Catalina A1 and A2

Attendance

3:15pm PDT

Reengaging, Redirecting, Reinforcing: Addressing Chronic Absenteeism Through Expanded Learning Partnership FILLING

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm PDT

Santa Rosa Ballroom

Feedback Survey

Chronic absenteeism poses a significant obstacle to student success and overall academic performance. Nevertheless, through strategic partnerships and expanded learning initiatives, schools can effectively confront this challenge and cultivate a culture of consistent attendance and active participation.

In this interactive workshop, participants will delve into the innovative approaches spearheaded by the Garvey School District in collaboration with expanded learning provider, Woodcraft Rangers. Together, they have established a comprehensive network of support and opportunities aimed at engaging and retaining students. From developing community and culturally tailored programs to providing immediate assistance for unhoused or foster youth, the partnership between Garvey and Woodcraft has capitalized on their respective strengths to optimize student engagement.

Speakers

Bulmaro Magallon

Director of Family Services, Garvey School District

Danny Salas

Chief Program Officer, Woodcraft Rangers

Danny Salas, Chief Program Officer, Woodcraft Rangers, leads diverse expanded learning programs, overseeing a team of directors, program managers, and 850+ site coordinators and club leaders. Instrumental in the formation of partnerships that support inclusion of neurodiverse and... Read More →

Tuesday April 29, 2025 3:15pm - 4:30pm PDT
Santa Rosa Ballroom

Attendance

8:30am PDT

Building the Foundation for Success: Early Identification, Intervention, and Best Practices for Attendance Strategies FILLING

Wednesday April 30, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am PDT

Santa Rosa Ballroom

Feedback Survey

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.

Speakers

Andres Castro

Senior Program Specialist, Child Welfare & Attendance, Los Angeles County Office of Education

Dr. Andres Castro serves as Senior Program Specialist for the Los Angeles County Office of Education. With a robust background in educational leadership and student support, they have previously dedicated 8 years as a school counselor and have excelled as a district administrator... Read More →

Toni Banuelos LCSW

Senior Program Specialist-Child Welfare & Attendance, Los Angeles County Office of Education

Toni Banuelos brings over two decades of dedicated service to youth and families in the education and social services sectors. She currently serves as a Senior Program Specialist in the Child Welfare and Attendance Unit at the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE), where... Read More →

Courtney Matz PhD

Senior Program Specialist, LACOE

Courtney Matz, Ph D, is a Senior Program Specialist in the Child Welfare and Attendance Unit with the Los Angeles County Office of Education. She has worked in the field of Education for over 15 years as both a School Counselor and School Psychologist. In addition, she has taught... Read More →

Wednesday April 30, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am PDT
Santa Rosa Ballroom

Attendance

8:30am PDT

Interdistrict Transfers - When Can I Say No? FILLING

Wednesday April 30, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am PDT

Feedback Survey

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.

Speakers

Lauri Arrowsmith

Senior Counsel, Lozano Smith Attorneys at Law

Lauri Arrowsmith is Senior Counsel in Lozano Smith's San Diego office. Ms. Arrowsmith focuses on helping school districts handle complex special education issues in a variety of settings, including IEP meetings, mediations and due process hearings. With her many years of experience... Read More →

Amanda Cordova

Senior Counsel, Lozano Smith Attorneys at Law

Amanda J. Cordova is Senior Counsel in Lozano Smith's San Diego Office. Ms. Cordova represents public school districts, county offices of education, and special education local plan areas, focusing on various aspects of education law with a concentration on special education and student... Read More →

Wednesday April 30, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am PDT
Catalina C2

Attendance

8:30am PDT

Streamlining Success: Attendance Processes and Protocols for Improvement LIMITED

Wednesday April 30, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am PDT

Catalina A1 and A2

Feedback Survey

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.

Speakers

Laura Collins-Williams

Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Beverly Hills Unified School District

Laura Collins-Williams serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Student Services in the Beverly Hills Unified School District, where she oversees a wide range of programs, including special education, student health and psychological services, discipline, attendance, safety, and... Read More →

Dr. Ben Wardrop

Director, Student Services, Beverly Hills USD

Wednesday April 30, 2025 8:30am - 9:45am PDT
Catalina A1 and A2

Attendance

10:00am PDT

Enhancing Student Engagement and Attendance: San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) Social Workers' Comprehensive Approach LIMITED

Wednesday April 30, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am PDT

Catalina A1 and A2

Feedback Survey

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.

Speakers

Dago Espinoza

San Mateo Union High School District

Chelsi Cheng

District Social Worker, San Mateo Union High School District

Melina Diaz

San Mateo Union High School District

Wednesday April 30, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am PDT
Catalina A1 and A2

Attendance

10:00am PDT

Utilizing a System of Approach to Attendance & Truancy Mediation FILLING

Wednesday April 30, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am PDT

Feedback Survey

Learn about Lodi USD's system of approach for addressing student attendance and truancy. This presentation will cover the following: district/school site structure for attendance/truancy, Lodi USD's truancy mediation process, and the use of RaaWee K12 Attendance Improvement software.

Speakers

Benjamin Rechter

Coordinator, Lodi Unified School District

Wednesday April 30, 2025 10:00am - 11:15am PDT
Catalina A3

Attendance