The summer months offer a golden opportunity to strengthen relationships with students and families that can carry over to the next school year. The second webinar in the 2026 Attendance Awareness Campaign series, “Engage and Build Bridges in the Summer,” explored how schools and districts are doing just that.
Speakers emphasized that summer is not a pause in the work to improve attendance.
Hedy Chang, CEO and president of Attendance Works, began the webinar by sharing the national context: chronic absence remains far too high. Hedy noted that improving attendance requires understanding the root causes of absences, and emphasized the importance of positive conditions for learning to create learning environments that motivate showing
The webinar highlighted how schools should consider attendance as a year-long effort. Gisela Ariza, associate director of programs at Attendance Works, encouraged participants to use chronic absence data to identify which schools, grade levels and student groups most need expanded learning opportunities, then continue using attendance data during the school year to identify patterns and provide support.
T.J. Ryan, superintendent, and Megan Marquez, assistant superintendent, Woodlake Unified School District, California, described how the district moved from a compliance-focused approach to one centered on connection, belonging and partnership with students and families. Woodlake uses attendance teams, real-time data, summer programs, transition supports and family outreach to understand what students and families need before the school year begins. Ryan and Marquez emphasized that listening to families and building two-way communication helps families feel seen, heard, valued and connected.
Edward Singleton, principal, and Dean Vaccaro, eighth grade U.S. history teacher, Roton Middle School, Connecticut, said the school creates a supportive environment. Roton organizes its attendance work around structure and data, engagement and incentives, partnerships and mental health collaboration. Vaccaro also shared how the school’s five-week summer transition camp for rising sixth graders offers transportation and combines fun academic activities, enrichment and field trips to help students build confidence before the school year begins.
Anasofia Trelles, senior manager K-12, SchoolHouse Connection, highlighted the connection between homelessness and chronic absence. She explained that students experiencing homelessness face barriers that go beyond poverty. She described a new toolkit developed by SchoolHouse Connection and Attendance Works designed to support district level efforts to ensure homeless students can regularly get to school.
Each webinar in the AAC series is hosted by Attendance Works, the Institute for Educational Leadership and the campaign partners. Our theme this year is Your Presence Matters!
Find a list of links to the resources shared in the chat box during this webinar.
If you haven’t done so already, sign up for the next two AAC webinars.
Webinar 3: Create Community in the Fall
Wednesday, August 5, 2026
12-1:30pm PT / 3-4:30pm ET
Webinar 4: Ensure Support All Year Long
Wednesday, September 23, 2026
12-1:30pm PT / 3-4:30pm ET
Join the Attendance Awareness Campaign! Sign up here and receive the latest resources for creating your own campaign, along with news, research and strategies from Attendance Works.