Chronic absenteeism requires more than a single strategy or a single champion. It requires coordinated systems, trusted relationships, and data that drives action at every level. In this session, three practitioners will share how their distinct roles come together to support stronger attendance outcomes. Carol Ann Paul, Manager of State and Federal Programs and Special Populations at Wayne RESA, sets the foundation by introducing a shared vocabulary for discussing chronic absenteeism and connecting attendance practice to the Early Warning Intervention and Monitoring System (EWIMS) as a practical, data-informed action tool. Steve, a school and parent liaison with deep experience in attendance coordination and wraparound student support, walks participants through intervention strategies across the tiers of MTSS and explores how family engagement and relationship-building can address the barriers that data alone cannot see. Jason, Attendance Coordinator with the Washtenaw Intermediate School District, closes by examining what effective partnership between schools, districts, and intermediate agencies looks like and how those connections support sustainable implementation. Whether you work in a building, a district office, or a regional agency, you will leave with a shared language, practical strategies, and a clearer sense of who your partners are in this work.
Tuesday September 29, 2026 9:40am - 10:50am PDT VT 460
