Date & Time: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 2 p.m. ET
Chronic absenteeism remains a significant challenge for school districts and has implications for student success, district funding, and equity outcomes. This session explores three actionable, student-centric strategies that help district leaders connect attendance outcomes with coordinated decision-making, timing, and cross-department alignment.
Drawing on real district examples and multi-role expertise, panelists will share practical insights that support sustainable attendance improvements across student services, transportation, and executive leadership teams.
The 3 Key Strategies
- Viewing transportation through an attendance lens: Explore how reliability, timing, and continuity influence attendance patterns — especially for students with complex needs.
- Including transportation expertise earlier in student-level decisions: Understand how earlier integration in placement, IEP, and housing decisions supports continuity and reduces avoidable disruption.
- Strengthening governance and cross-team communication: Learn approaches to align expectations, documentation, and coordination across departments to sustain attendance improvements.
Bonus: Attendees will receive a Leadership Discussion Guide: Student-Centric Transportation & Attendance, a practical resource designed to support district leaders and operational teams as they navigate evolving transportation realities and align around a shared goal of reducing chronic absenteeism.
Speakers
Jim Ellis, Director of Pupil Transportation, Henrico County Public Schools (VA)
Lisa Abernathey, Education Specialist-McKinney-Vento, Henrico County Public Schools (VA)
Greg Jackson
- Former Executive Director of Transportation and Fleet Services, Jefferson County School District (CO)
- General Manager of School Bus Services, EverDriven
Sponsored by
