Date & Time: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 2 p.m. ET
Districts across the country are rethinking how they approach attendance, recognizing that compliance-driven policies and attendance data alone often miss the deeper drivers of chronic absenteeism. Forward-thinking school systems are shifting toward more holistic, student-centered engagement models that look beyond seat time to understand what students truly need to succeed.
In this 30-minute Ed Talk, East Central ISD joins SchoolStatus to explore how districts can integrate academic, behavioral, and assessment data to surface hidden patterns behind absenteeism. Drawing on real-world district practices, including East Central ISD’s approach, they will share how cross-department collaboration and aligned data use can lead to more effective, equitable attendance strategies.
Bonus: Attendees who join the live event will be able to participate in a ThoughtExchange workshop to share and rank either the best practices or challenges from their peers on chronic absenteeism.***
Key Takeaways:
- Why Attendance Data Alone Falls Short: How combining academic, behavioral, and assessment data reveals the root causes of chronic absenteeism—and where districts should look for early signals
- From Punitive to Proactive Engagement: Strategies leading districts like East Central ISD use to shift from compliance-based attendance policies toward student-centered systems that support engagement and well-being
- Aligning Teams for Greater Impact: What district leaders can do to break down silos, align resources, and implement coordinated interventions that improve attendance and student outcomes
- ***Live 5-minute Workshop: Audience participation will generate reports showing the common ground and differences among district leaders, the summary of highest and lowest rated best practices, the top themes, potential next steps, and a SWOT analysis
Speakers
Meredith Powell, Aware Project Manager, East Central ISD (TX)
Dr. Kara Stern, Ph.D., Director of Education, SchoolStatus
Sponsored by
