As someone who鈥檚 been deeply involved in the fight to reduce chronic absenteeism in the Clark County School District () in Nevada, I鈥檓 pleased to share how our whole-community approach is bringing students back to the classroom and improving school culture. Chronic absenteeism has plagued schools across the nation, so this challenge isn鈥檛 unique to our district鈥攚hich serves a diverse and growing student population in Las Vegas and its surrounding communities鈥攂ut we are using some unique tools to address it. As a result we鈥檙e seeing a shift: our district has reduced chronic absenteeism by an estimated 9% in just one academic year.
So, how did we do it? It wasn鈥檛 just one initiative or a stroke of Las Vegas luck. We鈥檝e taken a comprehensive approach, deploying tools, strategies and support across every corner of our district. And, our partnership with (which takes a holistic, Whole Human approach in its own K-12 work and higher education system) has been a game-changer for us. Here鈥檚 a closer look at what we鈥檙e doing together:
Building Belonging in the Classroom
The first piece of the puzzle is the Harmony Curriculum. It recognizes that for students to succeed academically and thrive, they need to be able to focus in the classroom, and feel safe and able to risk raising their hands. It isn鈥檛 just about teaching math and reading or improving test scores; it鈥檚 about building foundational life and durable skills. This means helping kids feel like they belong in the classroom and the school community. Research shows that when students feel connected to their peers and teachers, they鈥檙e more likely to show up, and that鈥檚 exactly what we鈥檙e seeking.
focuses on building relationships and creating a supportive environment. It鈥檚 not just a 鈥渘ice-to-have鈥濃�攊t鈥檚 fundamental to improving attendance and academic success.
Empowering Our Teachers
We knew that to make a lasting impact, we had to invest in the professional growth of our staff. We decided to offer free opportunities for our teachers and school leaders to earn CUs through the Harmony Educator Certificate and Leader Certificate, equipping them with tools needed to build positive relationships with their students and among the faculty鈥攁nd to create an environment where every child feels valued.
And the response has been incredible! To date, more than 1,500 teachers and leaders have enrolled in these programs, eager to learn how to better engage with their students. In fact, over 1,000 of our educators signed up for training within 48 hours of the program launch. The enthusiasm from our educators has been so rewarding.
As the esteemed K-12 education expert Dr Douglas Fisher says: 鈥淏elonging can鈥檛 be left to chance. Educators and school leaders must be intentional about how we help students feel connected to their teachers and their peers. That鈥檚 how we get them to show up.鈥�
Engaging Families
We also recognize that what happens at home has a great impact on whether and how students walk through the classroom doors. Engaging families has been a huge part of our strategy. We have 12 family engagement centers throughout the district that provide everything from early childhood classes to English language courses for parents. We started to include the Harmony Academy approach to critical life and learning skills. These centers offer resources, which help parents connect with their children and reinforce the social and emotional learning happening at school.
The feedback from families has been overwhelmingly positive. Parents and caregivers leave these centers with new skills, confidence, and a deeper connection to their child鈥檚 education. They tell us it鈥檚 like being part of a larger community family and they feel more connected to their students鈥� schooling.
The Results Speak for Themselves
Reducing absenteeism by 9% in just one year is no small feat, and we couldn鈥檛 have done it without taking a whole-community approach.
Dr. Fisher, co-authored a white paper with Dr. Mark D. Milliron and Dr. Nick Yoder鈥攂oth of National University鈥攃alled 鈥�.鈥� The paper lays out seven solutions to improve chronic absenteeism鈥攚hich resonate deeply with me based on what we鈥檝e experienced in CCSD.
And we鈥檙e not done yet. Our next steps include continuing to grow these programs, refining our strategies, and staying focused on what matters most: ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed, both in and out of the classroom.
As we move forward, I鈥檓 excited to see how our efforts will continue to make a difference in the lives of our students and their families. Chronic absenteeism isn鈥檛 a problem we can solve overnight, but with the right tools, partnerships, and a commitment to the whole child and whole family, we鈥檙e inspired and motivated to see that real progress is possible.