Be There and Be Present: An Interorganizational Network to Improve School Attendance

Abstract

This case study explores a county-wide initiative to improve school attendance through a successful network collaboration among organizations within Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. The network was a collaboration between nonprofit, for-profit, governmental, and educational leaders who sought to raise awareness about the effects of chronic absenteeism on student outcomes. Educational leaders and, specifically, district and school level administrators are often navigating the different programs and interventions that could lead to improved student attendance, while also dealing with factors that are outside of their control. Educators studying this case will examine the reasons why students become chronically absent and strategies that factor in collective action to see improvement in attendance rates.