Attendance as Leadership: Why Being Present Matters for Students and Schools

 

Attendance as Leadership: Why Being Present Matters for Students and Schools

There’s one issue that always comes up when I’m talking with teachers and administrators: attendance. It’s easy to think of it as “just taking roll,” but over time I’ve come to see that attendance is a mirror of school climate, relationships, and leadership. When students aren’t present, they miss more than instruction — they miss connection, community, and opportunity.

I recently came across a video from PBS’s ncIMPACT series that looks closely at how schools are approaching the attendance crisis. The piece, School-Based Strategies to Address the Attendance Crisis, shows how chronic absenteeism isn’t just a data point — it’s a lived experience for students, families, and leaders trying to make school a place students want to come to every day. (pbs.org)

Why Attendance Is a Leadership Issue

When I first started my administrative coursework, I assumed attendance problems were mostly a “teacher or family” concern: send letters, make calls, do truancy interventions, check compliance. But progressive research and personal observation have shifted my thinking. Attendance is fundamentally connected to school culture, engagement, and equitable support systems.

For instance, Daily et al. (2020) found that students who perceive a positive school climate and higher levels of satisfaction with school tend to have lower absenteeism and better academic outcomes. That hit me. It’s not just about making students show up; it’s about creating a school environment where they want to come. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Critical Question 1: Are We Fixing Attendance or Fixing the Reasons Kids Don’t Come?

It’s tempting to focus on punitive measures: letters home, detention, truancy referrals. But what really helps — according to Attendance Works and other research — is understanding the barriers students face and addressing them. (attendanceworks.org)

When leadership shifts from “increase attendance numbers” to “increase belonging,” schools start designing interventions that actually work. That might look like more empathetic family outreach or school-based supports for students facing economic or social challenges.

Critical Question 2: How Can Leaders Build Systems That Support Consistent Attendance?

Good leadership doesn’t just react to absenteeism — it creates systems where attendance naturally improves because students feel supported and connected. Some strategies that stand out for me:

  • Multi-tiered attendance supports: Early identification of students at risk, targeted supports, and continuous monitoring.

  • Community engagement strategies: Partnering with health providers, social services, and families to address external barriers.

  • Meaningful school culture: Mentorship programs, welcoming entry routines, and engaging instruction that make students feel seen.

The PBS ncIMPACT video shows districts using community partnerships to address chronic absenteeism. The evidence is clear: stronger supports and positive school climates lead to better attendance and student success. (pbs.org)

My Reflection as a Future Administrator

This topic has reshaped how I see leadership.

Attendance isn’t just about compliance or discipline; it’s about relationships, equity, and opportunity. Students who stay home often do so for reasons beyond their control. My job isn’t to force them to show up — it’s to make school a place they want to be.

Attendance is feedback. Not just on students — but on us as leaders.

“When students choose to come, that’s where learning truly begins.”

CAPE Standard Connection

This post connects to CAPE Standard 3: Management and Learning Environment. Improving school attendance isn’t just a procedural task; it’s about shaping a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment. Leadership must align resources, culture, and community supports to foster consistent student attendance.

References (APA)

Attendance Works. (2025). Bringing Attendance Home [Video]. Attendance Works. https://www.attendanceworks.org/resources/videos/bringing-attendance-home-video/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Daily, S. M., Smith, M. L., Lilly, C. L., Davidov, D. M., Mann, M. J., & Kristjansson, A. L. (2020). Using school climate to improve attendance and grades: Understanding the importance of school satisfaction among middle and high school students. Journal of School Health, 90(9), 683–693. https://doi.org/10.1111/josh.12929 (PMC link)

Educational Resources Information Center (IES). (2018). School-based strategies to address the attendance crisis [Video]. PBS ncIMPACT. https://www.pbs.org/video/school-based-strategies-to-address-the-attendance-crisis-i7tqh5/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

U.S. Department of Education. (2025). Supporting student attendance and engagement. https://www.ed.gov/teaching-and-administration/supporting-students/seac/supporting-student-attendance-and-engagement?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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