Positive Promotion of Attendance: Prevention is Better Than Reaction

Thursday February 8, 2024
9:30 - 11:00 AM
Virtual Workshop 1

Chronic absenteeism is a national issue that disproportionately occurs in minorized student populations. Addressing absenteeism is particularly complex because it requires the community, family, school, and student to understand and participate. This workshop will discuss how the Utah State Board of Education is flipping the script from "addressing absenteeism and truancy" to "positive promotion of attendance". This is intended to promote that every day of school matters for a student's social and academic progression. This session will discuss systemically addressing state and LEA policy, engaging in authentic parent engagement, collecting data that effectively frames the current attendance narrative, and implementing MTSS with an attendance focus in school systems. Participants should expect to leave with 3-4 tangible next steps in promoting attendance and have the tools to support it.

Presenters
Aspen Florence

Aspen Florence has been an educator in Utah for the past 20 years. She taught Special Education for ten years in the K-12 setting. She worked as a behavior specialist for five years and was the Director of Student Advocacy for two years in the Ogden School District. She also teaches M.Ed Special Education and Leadership Courses at Weber State. Aspen works as a consultant providing professional learning and coaching nationally and works for the Utah State Board of Education as a Prevention Specialist supporting student attendance. Aspen holds a B.A in Psychology, an M.Ed in Leadership, an M.Ed. in Curriculum Design and Instruction, and is currently completing her Ed.D with an emphasis on social service worker wellness.
type:
Virtual Workshop
theme:
Leadership
audience:
building leaders
tags:
school climate culture