How Cabrillo USD Reduced Chronic Absenteeism with PowerSchool Attendance Intervention

When Cabrillo Unified School District (CA) resumed in-person learning after the pandemic, they faced a daunting challenge: a surge in chronic absenteeism that threatened student success across the district. Confronting an unprecedented attendance crisis like many other school systems across the country, Cabrillo USD needed an effective and sustainable solution to streamline communication between school and home, improve student engagement, and ultimately reduce student absenteeism. They found it in PowerSchool Attendance Intervention.

The Rising Problem of Chronic Absenteeism

Before the pandemic, absenteeism at Cabrillo USD hovered around a manageable 7-8%. But by the 2022-23 school year, those numbers had ballooned. Chronic absenteeism wasn't just a statistic anymore. It was a reality impacting students' academic performance, emotional well-being, and future success.

The most affected groups included kindergarteners and high school seniors. For young learners, families often underestimated the importance of early school attendance. For older students, many had begun working during the pandemic and were reluctant to cede their newfound independence and return to the structure of school life. Across the board, students felt more disconnected.

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Understanding the Root Causes of Absenteeism

Cabrillo USD took the time to dig into the "why" behind missed school days. Their research found:

• Student engagement challenges. Some high school students wanted to maintain the independence they had developed during remote learning, while younger students struggled to form connections in the post-pandemic environment.
• Family challenges. Many families were juggling complex issues, from financial pressure and health concerns to frequent relocations among migrant communities.
• Mental health challenges. Anxiety and depression, particularly among older students, played a significant role in absenteeism, making school feel overwhelming rather than supportive.

Taking the time to do this research helped Cabrillo USD understand that they needed to do more than just send attendance reminders to students and families. They needed a system of true support and meaningful engagement.

The PowerSchool Solution: Attendance Intervention

Cabrillo USD turned to PowerSchool Attendance Intervention, a platform designed to automate and personalize attendance communication.

Key features of Attendance Intervention that made a difference

• Automated messaging. Parents receive timely messages after a set number of absences (Cabrillo USD opted for 3, 5, 8, and 10), ensuring no student falls through the cracks.
• Tiered communication. With three tiers of messaging, staff can tailor interventions to suit each family's needs, from general reminders to personalized outreach.
• Postcards. Students are recognized with congratulatory postcards for good attendance, while families receive gentle, friendly reminders about the importance of showing up.

We wanted to make sure families didn'tfeel punished. Instead, we asked, 'How can we help you?

James Barnes Director of Student Services

Engaging Families through Personalized, Positive Communication

One of the most impactful tools in Cabrillo's toolkit is celebrating the wins.

Sending personalized postcards to students with good attendance became a powerful form of positive reinforcement. "Families would email us saying, 'That made my day' or 'Thanks for recognizing our efforts,'" says Barnes.

This proactive, empathetic approach helped remove the stigma around absenteeism. Rather than making assumptions, Cabrillo staff focused on listening, helping, and connecting families with real solutions.

And it doesn't stop with attendance. Through the same platform, the district shares resources such as food pantries, free health clinics, and local job fairs-meeting families where they are.

Positive Outcomes Across the District

Since implementing Attendance Intervention, Cabrillo USD has seen meaningful progress:

• Chronic absenteeism rates are trending down, and staff now have more time to understand and address underlying issues rather than chase down data. Across the district, absenteeism rates have decreased 14.68%since implementing Attendance Intervention, with some campuses reporting a decrease of more than 20%.
• Student engagement is on the rise, with teachers and counselors noticing increased enthusiasm from students who feel seen and supported.
• Families feel more connected, leading to stronger school-community relationships and a renewed emphasis on daily attendance.

Creating a Schoolwide Culture of Attendance

It's not just one department doing the work. Attendance is now a shared priority across Cabrillo USD.

Teachers are empowered to send messages of encouragement. Principals track attendance trends in real time. Counselors follow up with families to uncover challenges and offer support. As Barnes puts it, "It's no longer just about enforcement. It's about partnership."

This shift from a punitive approach to a collaborative, celebratory one is helping Cabrillo USD build a lasting culture of showing up.

Looking Ahead: Continued Innovation and Support

Cabrillo isn't stopping with their success. The district plans to:

• Expand its use of PowerSchool's Attendance Intervention platform with even more personalized outreach.
• Continue addressing mental health needs by connecting students with targeted resources and support.
• Strengthen community partnerships to offer wraparound services that support the whole child and family.

Building Stronger School-Family Partnerships for Success

Cabrillo USD's story is a testament to what's possible when technology and empathy work hand in hand. By using PowerSchool Attendance Intervention, they've not only reduced absenteeism. They've redefined what it means to support students and families.

Create stronger relationships between schools and families

Reduce chronic absenteeism and increase daily attendance with PowerSchool Attendance Intervention

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