Student Attendance & Engagement Summit

Who Should Attend:

The summit is intended for professionals and partners working to improve student attendance, engagement, and school success, including:

• ISD and LEA administrators and leadership teams
• School and district attendance personnel
• Building administrators and instructional leaders
• Educators, student support staff, and school-based teams
• MTSS and school improvement teams
• Family engagement and community partnership staff
• Community organizations and agencies supporting students and families

When:

This virtual event will be held on February 5, 2027 from 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM. 

Register Today!

Registration closes January 29, 2027.

We strongly recommend hosting a “watch party” where multiple people can view the presentations together, as “seats” for the virtual platform are limited.

If you are attending as a group for a watch party, please register only one person from your group. That person's email will serve as the watch party login, and they will act as the host.

The Student Attendance & Engagement Summit will highlight national and state-level research on student attendance and engagement, along with presentations showcasing how Michigan Intermediate School Districts (ISDs) and Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) apply research and state guidance in practice.

Topics may include:

• Understanding attendance patterns: Using data to identify trends, recognize students who may need additional support, and explore the factors contributing to absenteeism.
• Strengthening student engagement and belonging: Creating positive school environments, building meaningful relationships, and increasing students' connection to school.
• Addressing barriers to attendance: Partnering with students, families, and community organizations to identify and address barriers to regular attendance.
• Building effective attendance systems: Establishing collaborative teams, coordinating supports, and integrating attendance efforts into existing school and district improvement processes.
• Strengthening regional and local partnerships: Exploring how ISDs, LEAs, and community partners can work together to build capacity and coordinate services.
• Monitoring progress and improving practices: Using data, feedback, and ongoing reflection to evaluate strategies and guide continuous improvement.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the Student Attendance and Engagement Summit, participants will be able to:

• Identify evidence-based strategies from national and state-level research to improve student attendance and engagement.
• Describe approaches implemented by Michigan ISDs and LEAs to address barriers to attendance and strengthen student engagement.
• Identify strategies and practices that can be adapted to their own organizational context to strengthen attendance and engagement.
• Determine the next steps to improve local or regional attendance systems, practices, and partnerships to support student success.

• Liz Newell, EdS, LPC, CTS - Michigan Department of Education
• Jeremy Singer, PhD. and Sarah Lenthoff, PhD. - Detroit Partnership for Education Equity & Research, Wayne State University
• Cecelia Leong, Attendance Works
• Mark Larson, Kent ISD; Chris Howard, Lenawee ISD; Stephanie Deleeuw, Ottawa ISD

• Does it cost anything to attend the Student Attendance & Engagement Summit?
  • No! The Summit is free to all Michigan educators, family members, and community partners.
• Should we attend as a team?
  • We strongly recommend hosting a “watch party” where multiple people can view the presentations together, as “seats” for the virtual platform are limited.
• Will SCECHs be available?
  • Yes, SCECHs will be available, at no cost, pending approval of the application.
• Have additional questions? 
  • Email [email protected].