Use Improvement Science to understand why students miss school—and take action that brings them back.
Chronic absenteeism is one of the most persistent challenges schools face—and one of the clearest indicators of future academic risk. But improving attendance isn’t just about sending reminders or enforcing policy. Behind every absence is a deeper story: transportation struggles, disengagement, health issues, or students who don’t feel a sense of belonging at school. To turn absenteeism around, we must stop guessing and start investigating the real causes.
That’s exactly what the Improvement Science course from Schools That Lead empowers educators to do. In this eight-week virtual course, school teams learn how to identify and unpack the systems contributing to chronic absenteeism—and then design, test, and refine strategies that work in their own context. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all program; it’s a hands-on process that helps you make sustainable, data-driven change where it matters most.
You’ll be guided by expert facilitators with deep experience helping schools reduce absenteeism by 30–80%, and join a network of peers who are facing the same urgent challenges. Together, you’ll learn how to use simple tools to study patterns in attendance, engage families, and shift school culture in ways that support stronger student connections and daily attendance.
If your team is ready to stop reacting and start improving, improvement science offers the method and momentum to make it happen. You’ll leave with a repeatable process, real results—and a renewed sense of what’s possible for your students.
Register today for the Improvement Science course and start building a school where every student shows up, feels seen, and is ready to learn.
South Newton Elementary School in Newton, North Carolina faced a significant post-COVID absenteeism challenge, with 43% of students missing three or more days in the first quarter of the 2023-24 school year. By partnering with Schools That Lead and using Improvement Science, they reduced absenteeism to 27% in just one year.
Foothills Community School (FCS) in McDowell County, North Carolina, has long been recognized for its innovative approach to education, particularly in STEM learning. Since opening 2016, FCS has used Project-Based Learning (PBL) to foster student engagement and academic success. In 2023, the school was named a North Carolina STEM School of Distinction—a testament to its successful implementation of the STEM School Progress Rubric–further solidifying its reputation as a leader in hands-on, inquiry-based learning.
When a Rutherford County teacher sent handwritten postcards to five of her students, she couldn’t have predicted the ripple effect it would create. Her small idea became a model for building student connection, scaled and adapted by educators across North Carolina.
Schools That Lead:
The approximate number of K-12 students STL serves across two cohorts, 70% of whom live in poverty.
The proportion of STL NC NIC schools with graduation rates above the state average increased across both STL cohorts.
The majority of STL NC NIC schools saw greater declines in chronic absences than the state average.
The percentage of STL NC NIC participants reporting understanding how to implement school improvement ideas to address early warning indicators in their school (Since spring 2021)
“[I am] actually observing and recording immediate positive academic, attendance and/or behavioral results for students that need it the most. This is very empowering to me because I don’t have to wait for benchmarks, EOGs, or graduation to see that what I am doing for these students is moving them in the right direction!”
- North Carolina Teacher Leader
Reduce the number of students in your school with early warning indicators for attendance, behavior and course performance.
Embed proven improvement strategies in your context.
Make use of short-cycle, actionable data for classroom-based and school-wide improvement.
Harness the power of a network of like-minded educators across the state to accelerate improvement.
