From the Field · Originally shared on LinkedIn by Gary D. Soto (August 2026)
Attendance belongs to the whole system, not only the attendance office.
The U.S. chronic absenteeism rate fell from about 31% in 2021–22 to 28% in 2022–23. That is movement in the right direction, but more than one in four students were still missing at least 10% of the school year.[2]
A reminder letter cannot solve a transportation problem. A reward cannot repair a student’s sense that school has little to do with them. And an attendance dashboard, by itself, cannot build trust with a family.
Districts make better progress when attendance, instruction, student support, and family communication stop operating as separate projects. Leaders need a shared view of the problem, an early response when patterns appear, and tiered support that fits the reason a student is absent.
This is where Collective Efficacy matters. Adults across the system must believe their coordinated actions can change a student’s experience, then back that belief with clear routines and follow-through.
Gary D. Soto Consulting works with leadership teams to connect the people and practices that students depend on. The work is disciplined, specific to the students in front of you, and honest about the absence of quick fixes.
If chronic absence is draining the impact of your academic plan, message me or start a conversation with GDS at https://garydsoto.com/card/.
#StudentAttendance #CollectiveEfficacy #DistrictLeadership #MTSS
Sources
[2] U.S. Department of Education, Chronic Absenteeism — ed.gov/chronic-absenteeism