Chronic absenteeism was framed as one of the most urgent—and misunderstood—challenges facing schools today, with participants examining the idea that the issue goes far beyond attendance counts and cannot be solved through school-based interventions alone.
During this free MASSP webinar, educators explored key ideas from Rethinking Chronic Absenteeism: Why Schools Can’t Solve It Alone by Sarah Winchell Lenhoff and Jeremy Singer. Grounded in years of Detroit-based research and led by experts from Wayne State University, the session reframed chronic absenteeism as a systemic equity issue rooted in student connection, community conditions, and school–family relationships.
Educators from a variety of roles engaged with the foundational concepts from the book and reflected on how schools can move beyond compliance-driven approaches toward strategies that strengthen student connection and engagement. For those planning to attend MASSP’s upcoming AP Summit, the webinar served as a meaningful primer—offering research-based frameworks and shared language that will be revisited and expanded during the event.