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Washington's 5-year Challenge to Cut Chronic Absence in Half

Join the National Effort to Reduce Chronic Absence by 50% in 5 Years

Washington has joined a nationwide effort-led by Attendance Works, EdTrust, and AEI to cut chronic absenteeism in half over 5 years. The challenge calls on education leaders to ensure students attend 90% or more of their school days. OSPI is inviting Washington school districts leaders to join the challenge.

Addressing chronic absenteeism is a shared priority between school districts, OSPI and our partners. Your leadership makes the difference. 

Benefits of Participation:
  • District Recognition: Your district will be featured on OSPI's website and in OSPI publications.
  • Statewide Community of Practice: An opportunity to join a community of practice to share strategies and learn from peers.
  • Highlight your Success: Highlight your successful attendance practices with OSPI to be highlighted across the state.
  • Improved Academics: Research shows that better attendance results in better academic outcomes.
  • Improved Student Well-being: Research shows that attendance builds belonging through relationships and access to resources and opportunities that support success beyond academics.
Commitments as a Participant:
  • Share Goal & Plan: OSPI will ask participating districts to share their 5-year attendance goal and their plan for reducing chronic absence.
  • Share Progress, Successes and Challenges: OSPI will periodically connect with districts to learn about their progress, successes and challenges.
OSPI's Attendance Guiding Principles
By committing to this challenge, your district also commits to engaging in the work aligned to OSPI's Attendance Guiding Principles:
  • Attendance and engagement are foundational to student learning
  • Absences tell us when a student has not accessed instruction, and therefore all absences matter
  • Absences are a critical early warning indicator that can reflect inequities that are caused by or perpetuated by our systems or when a student and family might need more support
  • We have an opportunity to get curious about why students aren't attending
  • Students  and families are our best partners to understand the barriers to attendance
  • The purpose of attendance and truancy interventions are to reduce barriers to attendance and support students to engage; not to punish
  • Schools and districts have lots of opportunity for prevention and intervention before involving the Court
By filling out the form below, District Superintendents (or their designees) can pledge your district's commitment to the 50% Challenge.
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2. Role (This form is for Superintendents or their Designee) *This question is required.
5. Do you consent to having your district name and/or logo on OSPI's website and Communications materials as a participant in the challenge?
6. As part of this state-wide challenge, OSPI will be offering a district community of practice beginning in January. Districts will have the opportunity to meet and learn remotely with other district teams as well as learn from OSPI what other networks in the country are learning about attendance. Are you interested in learning more about the statewide community of practice? 
7. Is there anyone else in a district role that you would like us to contact regarding participation in the statewide community of practice?
9. Is attendance part of your district's strategic plan? If yes, how long has it been part of your plan? *This question is required.
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