Building Belonging and Boosting Attendance Across MMSD Schools

Every Day Counts, Attendance Matters! 

Informative posters are just one small drop of the tidal wave of practices MMSD has incorporated in growing attendance rates, which had declined nationwide following the COVID-19 pandemic. Since revamping attendance strategies, districtwide attendance rates have risen steadily over the past three years, starting at 86.3% in 2021-22 and reaching 88.1% in 2023-24. 

MMSD Lead Attendance Social Worker Laura Glaub shared the first step in improving attendance rates was creating a universal attendance process at MMSD so it could be followed across each school and grade level. Additionally, designated attendance teams at the district and school level were formed so staff could better identify and respond to the specific barriers to strong attendance. 

The teams also worked with the MMSD Board of Education to update Attendance Policy 4031, which created a clear definition of chronic absenteeism (both excused and unexcused) in one accessible policy. MMSD also collaborates with Attendance Works, a non-profit initiative with a tiered approach to improving attendance rates that starts with school-wide support and furthers into more individualized interventions. This could include attendance-incentive programs, ensuring students have the right school supplies to succeed, holding empathy interviews with guardians and more.

“Our attendance work is about so much more than numbers,” Glaub said. “It’s about creating environments where students feel connected, supported, and eager to learn every day.”

At Huegel Elementary, the path to stronger attendance wasn’t just about tracking data – it was about listening, collaborating and taking action. Over the past few years, a focused effort to address barriers like transportation, communication and family engagement has led to a remarkable milestone: an overall attendance boost, particularly among Black students, who are now reaching and maintaining a 90% attendance rate. That rate grew from 88.3% in 2022-23, and 85% in 2021-22.

When Huegel staff learned that a section of their attendance area was experiencing safety issues on their route to school, resulting in students staying home, they jumped into action. For four years, Huegel social worker Marci Fritts-Newbury and colleagues collected data including resident interviews, crime statistics, traffic conditions and more to demonstrate how the route to school should be designated as “unusually hazardous.” By collaborating with families, staff, the City of Madison, Wisconsin Department of Instruction and the MMSD Board of Education, three new school bus stops were established.

“Those three bus stops really created a boost in attendance, particularly for students who have been historically marginalized in education,” Fritts-Newbury said. “Families felt engaged because their voice was heard, even if it took four years for the goal to come to fruition.”

Continually and intentionally building that sense of community and belonging is another key strategy for improving attendance at Huegel. Through events like the annual welcome back party and Latino Family Nights and student and family-based groups like Black Student Leadership and HAPPEN, staff strive to create a space where all families feel welcome. Staff also make sure every family has at least one staff member they are comfortable reaching out to at the school, and work together to find the best method of communication.

Looking ahead, Glaub and her team are excited to further their efforts in improving attendance rates across each school.

“Attendance is the foundation of student success,” Glaub said. “Every day a student is in the classroom is another opportunity to learn, connect and grow. Our goal is to make sure every student feels supported and valued so they want to be here and thrive.”