The Urgent Call to Action: Secretary Cardona’s Strategies for Ending Student Absenteeism

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In a recent letter to Chief State School Officers, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona tackled the pressing issue of chronic absenteeism, highlighting successful initiatives such as the Los Angeles Unified School District’s approach. By conducting over 19,300 home visits, the district significantly strengthened the bond between schools and families and significantly reduced chronic absenteeism. This achievement underscores the potential for impactful change, yet Cardona emphasizes that continued and concerted efforts are necessary.

Secretary Cardona calls on each State to commit to three pivotal actions aimed at bolstering student attendance and engagement for the remainder of the 2023-24 school year and laying a solid groundwork for further advancements in the 2024-25 school year:

  1. Enhance Regular School Attendance: States are urged to support schools in boosting regular attendance through the implementation of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) Consolidated State plan.
  2. Utilize Departmental Resources and Training: Secretary Cardona encourages States and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to utilize training provided by the Department to promote consistent school attendance. He also suggests leveraging the Student Engagement and Attendance Center (SEAC), among other resources, to design and implement strategies that improve student attendance and engagement.
  3. Invest ARP Funds in Attendance Strategies: There is a strong push to promptly invest the remaining American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds in evidence-based strategies that enhance regular school attendance. Secretary Cardona highlights the critical role these funds play in addressing chronic absenteeism and calls for strategic investment to support initiatives focused on increasing student attendance.

Secretary Cardona’s letter underscores the urgency of addressing chronic absenteeism and the collective responsibility of State and LEA leaders to implement effective strategies that ensure every student regularly attends and engages in school.

Read the full letter here.