Regular school attendance is a strong predictor of academic success, yet many attendance strategies rely on top-down, compliance-driven approaches that fall short of addressing root causes. This brief from WestEd’s Western Educational Equity Assistance Center offers education leaders an alternative: human-centered leadership practices that prioritize empathy, flexibility, and collaboration to understand and address the barriers keeping students out of school. The brief organizes its guidance around three levels of action. At the individual level, leaders examine their own mindsets about absences. At the collective level, staff, students, and families work together to bridge perspectives and learn from shared data. At the systems level, leaders adapt policies and routines to better serve those least well supported by current approaches.
For each level, the brief pairs practices, such as strengthening self-awareness, navigating diverse perspectives, and fostering transparent communication, with reflection questions and practical “Try It Out” activities that leaders can apply directly in their schools. Ultimately, the brief calls on education leaders to cultivate trust and engage those most affected by attendance challenges, positioning human connection as central to creating lasting improvements in attendance.
