DATE:
March 12, 2026
TO:
Principals and Assistant Principals
FROM:
Michael Anderson, Associate Superintendent
Travis Hamblin, Director of Student Services
McKinley Withers, Health & Wellness Consultant
Michelle Reyes, Attendance/Prevention Specialist, Health & Wellness
SUBJECT:
Reversing the Spring Slide: Proactive Attendance Strategies & the Spring 2026 Attendance Newsletter
As we move into spring, we are keeping a close eye on a trend known as the “Spring Slide.” Recent research and data from EveryDay Labs highlight that student attendance often begins to dip in February and March—a critical period when academic rigor increases as we prepare for end-of-year assessments.
Interestingly, a student’s attendance patterns right now are a major predictor of whether they will end the year chronically absent. To prevent a late-year attendance crisis, early, targeted intervention today is the most effective way to keep students on track.
What we can do now to prevent worse attendance later:
- Surface Tier 2 Trends Early: Don’t wait for students to become severely chronically absent. Focus on “Tier 2” students—those missing 10–19% of school (roughly 2–3 days a month). These students are often "under the radar" but are the most likely to respond to early outreach.
- Identify "Weekend Extenders": Look for patterns of absences on Mondays and Fridays. Proactively reaching out to these families 2–3 weeks before upcoming breaks can prevent these single days from snowballing into long-term habits.
- Launch a "Spring Slide" Campaign: Just as we do for Back-to-School, use this month to refresh your attendance messaging. Highlighting upcoming school events, student showcases, or classroom competitions can rebuild the "must-be-there" culture.
- Focus on Barrier Removal: Instead of punitive measures, use this time to conduct brief "barrier assessments." Often, a simple shift in transportation support or an encouraging phone call home can resolve the underlying issues causing spring absences.
By acting now, we can ensure our students finish the year strong and don't lose the valuable progress they’ve made since the fall.
Also, the attached spring attendance newsletter contains resources for upcoming Attendance Works webinars, a short video clip about addressing tier 2 attendance, an article about attendance messaging, and a resource to help parents know when sick is too sick to attend school.
Questions? Contact Michelle Reyes at michelle.reyes@jordandistrict.org or 801-567-8205.
