S3:E3 - 50 Outside-the-Box Strategies on How to Reduce Absenteeism
S3 #3

S3:E3 - 50 Outside-the-Box Strategies on How to Reduce Absenteeism

Recorded at the Innovative Schools Summit (San Antonio, Dec 2025), Kevin facilitates a rapid 50 in 50 panel where five experts share 50 practical ideas to boost attendance. The big message: Attendance is a culture signal—improve belonging, remove barriers, and make school worth showing up for.


👥 Featured Speakers

Charles Williams - Previously a CPS administrator & founder of C.W. Consulting, with 20 years of Classroom Experience

Dr. Darren Pepperd - 26 years in education, Lead Innovator for Road to Awesome

Sharon Bradley - 25 years in education, Principal and educator consultant, founder of Restorative Flow Educational Solutions

Moses Oheda - 32 years in education, leads a 13 CT program school

Dr. Tracey Severns - Nationally Recognized Education Strategist & Founder of Teach4Results, with over 36 years in education


🧠 Key Takeaways

✔️ Reframe the language: move from “truant/chronically absent” to “students who need belonging and support.”
✔️ Relationships drive attendance: connect every student to trusted adults, peers, and activities.
✔️ Remove obstacles that make attendance difficult—by addressing basic needs and eliminating school practices that unintentionally discourage students from returning.
✔️ Make it visible + motivating: set realistic goals (not “perfect”), track progress, celebrate consistently.
✔️ Reduce reentry shame: welcome-back routines and catch-up systems help students return without feeling overwhelmed.


💬 Memorable Quotes

🗣️“Perfect is demoralizing.”
🗣️“Do not be the reason why a child chooses not to come to school.”
🗣️“Attendance is a symptom of your culture.”
🗣️“The goal is not to get kids to court. The goal is to get kids to class.”
🗣️“If our instruction is not relevant… why do they need to be there?”


🎯 51 Strategies for School Leaders and Staff to Address Absenteeism 

  1. Reframe labels around absenteeism (belonging vs. truancy)
  2. Second-mile service welcome language 
  3. Build intentional school connectedness 
  4. Family–student attendance conferences 
  5. Shadow a student for a full day 
  6. Walking school bus programs 
  7. Set realistic attendance goals (not perfect attendance) 
  8. Eliminate exclusionary practices as attendance barriers 
  9. Industry partners reinforcing attendance expectations 
  10. Question-storming instead of brainstorming 
  11. Family breakfast club 
  12. Front-of-the-line lunch incentives
  13. Positive phone calls before attendance concerns 
  14. Attendance-based trip cost incentives 
  15. Re-entry bridge supports 
  16. Peer “we missed you” messages 
  17. Make instruction require physical presence 
  18. Teach life routines that support attendance 
  19. Student input committees on attendance
  20. Barrier-buster rapid response teams
  21. Community school supports (laundry, food, haircuts)
  22. Academic and attendance pep rallies 
  23. Teach test-day coping skills
  24. Flexible scheduling 
  25. Attendance ambassadors (older students) 
  26. Welcome-back stations
  27. Monthly recognition events
  28. Attendance messaging at school events
  29. Surprise recognition for consistent attendance
  30. Multiple adult mentors for high-risk students
  31. On-site health clinics 
  32. Visible attendance scoreboards
  33. Grade-level attendance competitions
  34. Incentives tied to classroom attendance
  35. Incentivize Parents
  36. Partner with Your Community 
  37. Pop-up Privileges
  38. Random Surprises 
  39. Daily adult check-ins
  40. Morning movie club
  41. Leadership Program
  42. Jazz-up Morning Announcements 
  43. Level-up
  44. Ask the students 
  45. Reimagine parent attendance forums 
  46. Allow parents to share strategies with each other
  47. Do a MOLOSA
  48. 5 Essentials 
  49. Attendance Culture 
  50. Attendance collaborative teams
  51. Predictive attendance pattern analysis

📚 Resources and Links

🔗 Join us at the next Innovative Schools Summit at www.innovativeschoolssummit.com

❤️ Love This Episode?

✅ Share it with a fellow educator!
⭐ Rate & Review to help more teachers find this show
💬 Join the Conversation on social media or in your next staff meeting!
💡 Innovative Schools Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/innovativeschoolspodcast/