Attendance USA Announces Inaugural Research to Practice Summit at LSU

Baton Rouge, LA — June 5 – 7, 2026 — Attendance USA is proud to announce the inaugural
Attendance USA Research to Practice Summit, to be held June 5 – 7, 2026, at Louisiana
State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The summit will convene national leaders
committed to improving student attendance, engagement, and well-being through
evidence-based practice.

This year’s summit will be hosted in partnership with Louisiana State University’s College of
Human Sciences & Education, bringing together researchers, practitioners, community
leaders, school administrators, and industry leaders to examine current research that has
demonstrated effectiveness in real-world educational settings. The event is designed to bridge
research and practice by elevating strategies that are producing measurable results for students
and schools.

Attendance USA approaches chronic absenteeism with a focus on family stability,
understanding that attendance issues frequently stem from factors such as housing insecurity,
health concerns, transportation challenges, and family stress, rather than solely student
motivation. By assisting schools and communities in identifying and addressing these underlying
factors, Attendance USA fosters proactive, relationship-based strategies aimed at stabilizing
families and promoting consistent engagement with education.

A featured highlight of the summit will be LSU’s Social Research & Evaluation Center,
recognized for its impactful work supporting school districts across Louisiana. The Center has
partnered with districts statewide to strengthen attendance, student engagement, and well-being
through applied research, evaluation, and data-informed decision-making.

Attendance USA members also serve as the United States delegation to the International
Network for Student Attendance (INSA). In addition to advancing national
research-to-practice efforts, the summit will serve as a key member convening to prepare for
the INSA Conference, to be held in Alicante, Spain, in Fall 2026. This alignment reinforces
Attendance USA’s commitment to connecting U.S. attendance initiatives with global research
and international best practices.

The Attendance USA Research to Practice Summit marks a significant milestone in fostering
collaboration between research institutions and education stakeholders, with a shared focus on
translating evidence into action that ensures every student is engaged, supported, and present.

Additional information regarding registration, key agenda items, and featured speakers will be
provided in the upcoming months. This event is by invitation only.

For more information contact:
Shelneka A. Marsalone
shelneka@attendanceusa.org