California Department of Education Releases Comprehensive Attendance Guide
Sacramento, CA – August 19, 2025 – The California Department of Education (CDE) today announced the publication of the California Attendance Guide, a comprehensive resource designed to support California’s local education agencies (LEAs) in their efforts to improve student attendance. The guide, released at 17:35 today, offers practical strategies and best practices for fostering positive school attendance and addressing the complex issue of chronic absenteeism.
Recognizing that consistent attendance is a cornerstone of student success, the CDE has developed this guide to provide LEAs with the tools and knowledge necessary to create environments where all students feel valued, engaged, and motivated to attend school regularly. The guide emphasizes a proactive and holistic approach, acknowledging that attendance is influenced by a multitude of factors, including student well-being, family engagement, and school climate.
Key features and areas of focus within the California Attendance Guide include:
- Understanding Attendance Data: The guide provides clear explanations and methodologies for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting student attendance data. This includes understanding different types of absenteeism, such as excused, unexcused, and chronic absenteeism, and how to use this data to identify trends and at-risk students.
- Root Cause Analysis: Recognizing that absenteeism is rarely a singular issue, the guide encourages LEAs to delve into the underlying reasons behind students’ absences. This involves exploring factors such as health concerns, transportation challenges, academic struggles, social-emotional well-being, and the impact of external circumstances on attendance.
- Evidence-Based Interventions: The guide highlights a range of research-backed strategies that LEAs can implement to prevent and address attendance barriers. These interventions cover various levels of support, from universal strategies to targeted interventions for students experiencing chronic absenteeism. Examples may include enhanced communication with families, early warning systems, positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS), and tailored academic or social-emotional support.
- Family and Community Engagement: A significant portion of the guide is dedicated to the crucial role of families and the wider community in promoting attendance. It offers strategies for building strong partnerships with parents and guardians, fostering open communication, and involving community organizations to provide comprehensive support for students and their families.
- Legal Requirements and Best Practices: The California Attendance Guide also clarifies relevant legal requirements pertaining to student attendance in California. It outlines the responsibilities of LEAs and provides guidance on compliance while emphasizing best practices that go beyond mere compliance to foster a culture of strong attendance.
- Creating a Positive School Climate: The guide underscores the importance of a welcoming, inclusive, and engaging school environment. It offers insights into how a positive school climate can significantly contribute to student motivation to attend school, fostering a sense of belonging and safety.
The release of the California Attendance Guide represents a significant step forward in the CDE’s commitment to ensuring that all California students have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education. By providing LEAs with this valuable resource, the Department aims to empower them to effectively address attendance challenges and ultimately improve educational outcomes for all students across the state.
Local education agencies are encouraged to review and utilize the California Attendance Guide as a foundational document for developing and strengthening their attendance policies and practices. The guide is now available for download on the California Department of Education’s website.
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CA Dept of Education published ‘California Attendance Guide’ at 2025-08-19 17:35. Please write a detailed article about this news in a polite tone with relevant information. Please reply in English with the article only.