From Attendance to Opportunity: How ECISD Is Strengthening Family Engagement—and Investing in the Future of Its Community
When Shane McKay talks about attendance, he doesn’t start with funding. He starts with students. “As humans we are designed to be social creatures,” says McKay, Assistant Superintendent for East […]
Straight From the Experts: The Latest Thinking on What Actually Moves Attendance
Author: Mallary Swartz, PhD Last month, I joined nearly 60 researchers, state and district leaders, and intermediary organizations in New York for a two-day convening focused on turning attendance research […]
Relationships First: The Small Moments That Change Everything
Written by Amanda Ensor Time to read: 5 minutes Summary: Why a one-minute text on a child’s first day of school can build more trust than any formal communication plan […]
Let the Good News Roll: Highlights from NSPRA 2026
Written by Amanda Ensor There’s a particular kind of electricity that runs through a room when strangers become, briefly and completely, one crowd. That’s exactly what greeted attendees before this year’s […]
From Involvement to Partnership: Key Takeaways from IEL’s CSxFE Conference 2026
Author: Vrinda Kokje More than 4,200 educators, family advocates, district leaders, and community organizers filled the Long Beach Convention Center last week for the Institute for Educational Leadership’s (IEL) 2026 […]
Stop the Drop: K12 enrollment retention strategies to protect and grow spring enrollment
Written by Kate Pechacek Enrollment doesn’t begin at registration For PK–12 school and district leaders, enrollment doesn’t begin at registration. It is the outcome of trust built with a family […]