Attendance USA Connection: September Attendance Awareness, Partnership, and Practical Action

Season-opening conversation focused on why Attendance Awareness Month matters and how schools can move from punitive policies to intentional, supportive systems. Hosts Shelneka Marsalone and Sharon Bradley discuss policy shifts, MTSS alignment, family and community partnerships, and concrete steps schools can take right now to strengthen attendance.

In this episode, Shelneka Marsalone and Sharon Bradley share how Attendance USA is helping connect research, practice, and resources across the country. They also unpack the urgent need to treat attendance as a foundation for safety, engagement, and academic success—not as an isolated compliance issue.

Key Topics

Attendance Awareness Month is a call to action, with September framed as the moment to get intentional about student, family, and community engagement.

Shelneka Marsalone discusses her work on attendance-focused blogs, including a piece on the role of school lunch programs and another arguing that students who show up late should still be admitted and supported.

Sharon Bradley highlights harmful practices such as zero suspension and policies that send students home when they return without a parent, arguing those approaches deepen chronic absence.

Both hosts emphasize a shift away from punitive responses toward problem-solving, partnership, and root-cause analysis.

Attendance USA is described as a connector organization, bringing together leaders, states, schools, and community partners rather than competing with them.

They stress that attendance must be embedded in district improvement plans, strategic plans, and MTSS, especially because academic, behavior, and graduation goals cannot be achieved if students are not in school.

Statewide efforts are spotlighted, including initiatives in North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, Georgia, Mississippi, and Maine, where partners are aligning resources, piloting tools, and funding attendance work.

The conversation connects attendance to school and psychological safety, with examples of districts placing attendance goals inside school safety pillars.

The hosts make the case that chronic absenteeism also affects community safety, family confidence, and juvenile delinquency trends.

The episode closes with practical guidance for the school year: review last year’s data, build attendance action plans, improve communication, form attendance teams, and invest in professional development.

Reimagining Education and Student Engagement: Insights from Principal Rahh and Knowlej

This episode takes you inside the 2026 Research to Practice Summit hosted at LSU, featuring Principal Rahh, founder of Knowlej, and innovative approaches to increasing student attendance through incentives and culturally responsive strategies. Discover how schools are pioneering new systems to engage students, families, and communities in meaningful ways.

In this episode:

• The role of incentives in re-engaging students and staff
• How Alpha Schools utilize behavior motivation tools effectively
• Policy debates around paying students for attendance
• The importance of building trust and restorative practices in schools
• Strategies to combat the "new absenteeism" quadrants
• How long-term rewards like tuition incentives motivate sustained engagement
• The impact of AI, economic shifts, and future workforce skills
• Foundations for creating inclusive, culturally responsive educational environments
• Success stories from DC Public Schools and LAUSD reducing absenteeism
• The importance of proactive prevention over reaction in addressing attendance issues

Connect with Principal Rahh:

• LinkedIn

Note:

Emphasizing proactive, culturally responsive strategies combined with financial incentives to build trust and improve attendance is essential for future-ready education systems.

In this episode, we dive into innovative strategies for addressing chronic absenteeism and fostering student engagement. Featuring Dr. Judith Rhodes, an esteemed researcher and leader in educational assessment, the conversation explores how partnerships between universities and K-12 schools can transform attendance and achievement.

In this episode, we explore the critical importance of attendance in schools, strategies for increasing student engagement, and the impactful role of community and family support. Our guest, Sal Birardi, shares his experiences from his 22 years in education and his work supporting over 25,000 students in New York City, emphasizing that attendance is a collective responsibility.

Resources

Attendance USA - https://attendanceusa.org

New York City Public Schools - https://www.schools.nyc.gov

Success Mentors Program - https://attendanceusa.org/success-mentors

Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) - https://taschool.org

In this episode, we explore the complex issue of school avoidance, its psychosocial roots, and effective strategies for families, educators, and communities to work together to support students. We dive into research findings, real-life success stories, and resources that can help turn things around for children struggling with attendance.

About Our Guest: Jayne Demsky

Jayne Demsky is a passionate advocate for students facing school avoidance challenges. As the founder of the School Avoidance Alliance, she has dedicated her career to supporting families and educators in understanding and addressing the complexities of school avoidance. With a wealth of personal experience and professional expertise, Jayne provides invaluable insights and practical strategies to help students re-engage with their education.

Key Topics:

• Understanding the difference between barriers and avoidance in student absenteeism
• The importance of school culture and creating safe, supportive environments
• The role of family advocacy and community engagement in tackling school avoidance
• Legal considerations: 504 plans and IEPs for students with mental health challenges
• Practical interventions: building relationships, modifying schedules, and peer support
• The impact of trained frontline staff and educator awareness on student success
• How the School Avoidance Alliance supports families and schools with targeted courses and community
• Success stories of families overcoming avoidance through collaborative efforts
• Upcoming Attendance USA Research to Practice Summit for research-driven strategies

Resources & Links:

• https://nprinc.com/chronic-absenteeism-strategies-for-addressing-school-refusal-and-avoidance/
• https://a.co/d/059FwCWO
• Attendance USA

Connect with Jayne Demsky:

• Website: schoolavoidance.org

Join us for the upcoming Research to Practice Summit:

• Date: June 5-7, 2026
• Location: Louisiana State University
• Email: [email protected]

In this episode, we dive deep into innovative strategies for increasing student attendance, addressing systemic barriers, and building strong community partnerships. Jansen Azarias-Suzumoto shares his inspiring journey from childhood challenges to leading impactful community work in Arizona, emphasizing empathetic accountability and collaborative solutions.

In this episode of the Attendance USA Connection podcast, hosts Shelneka Marsalone and Sharon Bradley welcome Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, a leading researcher in school attendance and family stability. The conversation explores the importance of parent engagement in increasing school attendance, the impact of family stability on student success, and practical strategies for schools to better engage parents. Dr. Gentle-Genitty shares her origin story and research focus, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to addressing absenteeism. The episode concludes with actionable insights for educators and parents to work together in supporting students' attendance and overall well-being.

Resources:

Perception of School Social Bonding (PSSB) Instrument: Structural and Concurrent Validity | Contemporary School Psychology https://share.google/QVNZ0uCTJYc4z11M0

The AttendanceUSA Connection podcast aims to address the critical issue of chronic absenteeism in schools by connecting research, practice, and resources. Hosts Shelneka Marsalone and Sharon Bradley discuss the importance of building partnerships, understanding psychosocial needs, and creating supportive systems to engage students and families effectively. They share their professional journeys, the inception of Attendance USA, and their vision for future conversations that will empower educators and communities to tackle absenteeism collaboratively.

Attendance USA Resource Guides

Attendance USA website

Attendance USA video

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=892a6834e9&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1849874234874837597&th=19ac12d0c8dcba5d&view=att&disp=safe&realattid=f_mig9o60g0&zw

For more information about your hosts:

About Shelneka and We Got Goals

About | We Got Goals LLC

About Sharon and RestorativeFlo Educational Solutions

About — RestorativeFlo Educational Solutions

The introduction episode of AttendanceUSA Connection sets the stage for a series of insightful conversations aimed at linking research, practice, and resources to help students across the country succeed. Hosts Shelneka Marsalone and Sharon Bradley introduce the podcast's mission to engage with educational leaders, practitioners, researchers, and community organizations who are transforming challenges into opportunities for student and family reengagement.