Indy to Host First-Ever National Conference on Attendance and Chronic Absenteeism, Centering Solutions and Family Voice

Nation’s first unified conference tackling chronic absenteeism through data, dialogue, and action brings Brandon P. Fleming, Lumina’s Jamie Merisotis and others

(INDIANAPOLIS) – May 9, 2025 – Attendance USA, a national initiative uniting leading scholars, practitioners, and organizations to address the urgent challenge of student attendance and absenteeism across the country, is hosting its first-ever conference, a two-day convening in Indianapolis on May 20-21 from 9am-3pm at Marriott East Hotel (7202 East 21st Street, Indianapolis IN). This is also the official launch of Attendance USA. “Attendance and chronic absenteeism isn’t just a school issue — it’s a community issue, shaped by health, housing, trauma, and family dynamics, including family stability,” said Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, Founder of Attendance USA, Inaugural Dean of Founder’s College at Butler University, and conference co-host. “We are quick to jump on a definition [of absenteeism] or a framing where we think we must solve it by legislation, not recognizing the care and support that’s needed to understand the student and what they’re going through.” This conference aims to help attendees dig in, consider multiple possibilities on the root causes of absenteeism, and develop actionable solutions. There will be keynotes, guest speakers, including a parent & family panel, spotlights of multi-tiered systems of supports (MTSS), and more. Brandon P. Fleming, for example, will share aspects of his journey as a former at-risk youth and college dropout turned award-winning educator, author, former debate coach at Harvard University, and Founder & CEO of The Veritas Schools. He will highlight how he almost slipped entirely through the cracks and the role that resiliency, visibility, and role model influence have on attendance. Jamie Merisotis, a renowned advocate for education reform and CEO of Lumina Foundation, will spotlight innovative solutions to improve attendance and ensure access to education for all students. “It’s important to consider data-driven insights, emerging strategies, and lived experiences aimed at shaping actionable solutions around keeping students in class learning,” said James Taylor, Director of Student and Social Services, MSD of Warren Township and Director of Moorhead Community Resource Center, and conference co-host.

Attendees, including experts, educators, families, and advocates will:
● Establish Best Practices: Develop and promote gold standards for attendance improvement strategies in the US.
● Identify Research Needs: Pinpoint gaps in current knowledge and prioritize future research.
● Provide Training: Train individuals working directly on attendance-related services.
● Track and Report Outcomes: Monitor and report on the effectiveness of attendance interventions.
● Educate and Share Knowledge: Disseminate information through an expanding network of partners and communities.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, during the 2021–22 school year, approximately 31% of U.S. students were chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more of school days. In the following year, 2022–23, the chronic absenteeism rate decreased slightly to 28%, indicating that nearly 1 in 4 students continued to be chronically absent.

Gentle-Genitty points out that this figure represents a significant increase from pre-pandemic levels, which were around 16% in the 2018–19 school year. “These statistics underscore the ongoing challenges schools face in addressing student attendance and the importance of implementing strategies to improve engagement and reduce absenteeism. We’re excited to learn from others, share our work, and collaborate on scalable solutions that keep students connected to learning and in the classroom,” Gentle-Genitty said. For Attendance USA 2025 registration information or to learn more, visit https://tinyurl.com/bd3akzbh/.

About Attendance USA

The journey to establish Attendance USA began in 2018, shortly after the launch of the International Network for School Attendance (INSA), where Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty served as a co-founder and one of its original visionaries. At each global conference — in countries like Norway, Australia, the Netherlands, and Spain — Gentle-Genitty was frequently asked: “What is the U.S. doing?” With nearly 20 INSA country chapters already established in places like France, Ireland, and Denmark, the call for a U.S. chapter grew louder, especially among fellow American attendees. The turning point came in October 2024, when INSA held its first international conference in New Orleans. U.S.-based stakeholders strongly advocated for a national chapter, making the need more urgent and clear. Encouraged by colleagues including James Taylor, Sharon Bradley, Patricia Graczyk, Shelneka Adams Marsalone, and insightful conversations with Hedy Chang, Gentle-Genitty took the step later that year to formally launch Attendance USA. Learn more here: attendanceusa.org.

About Dr. Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, Conference Convenor

Carolyn Gentle-Genitty, Ph.D., is a sought after national scholar and global speaker, an accomplished executive, esteemed, award-winning scholar, youth development coach, published author, and entrepreneur, with a wealth of interdisciplinary knowledge that propels her career spanning 25 years in higher education, social work, academic affairs, and more. She is a professor and Inaugural Dean of the Founder’s College at Butler University. Her research has fundamentally changed how educators and policymakers understand and address truancy and absenteeism. She developed the Perception of School Social Bonding instrument (PSSB), the first tool of its kind to assess gaps in students’ connection to their schools—a key factor in chronic absenteeism. Her studies emphasize that addressing truancy requires a holistic approach, considering not just parental accountability but also school climate, mental health, and community factors. Additionally, her research shows we must rethink data and reporting highlighting inconsistencies in how attendance data are collected and reported across states, advocating for standardized, meaningful metrics that inform better policy and practice. Her research, including machine learning studies, identifies peer relationships and socio-emotional factors as primary drivers of absenteeism. She recommends shifting from discipline-based responses to proactive engagement strategies, updating what is tracked (presence vs. absence) and providing resources for development. These findings collectively push for a holistic, student-centered approach to attendance that addresses root causes and fosters genuine engagement in education. She is the founder and lead consultant of Pivot Attendance Solutions, co-founder and Vice President of the International Network for School Attendance (INSA), and CEO and Founder of Attendance USA. Gentle-Genitty was former president of the International Association of Truancy and Dropout Prevention (IATDP). Learn more here: https://loop.frontiersin.org/people/636894/bio

About James Taylor, Conference Host

James Taylor has over 35 years of experience in the Warren community. He is Director of Student and Social Services for MSD of Warren Township and Director of Moorhead Community Resource Center. Additionally, he is a former adjunct professor at the IU School of Social Work, teaching health and social welfare policy. Taylor has worked as a clinical adolescent therapist and with incarcerated youth transitioning from restrictive placements. He has developed restorative justice practices for juvenile offenders, homeless youth, and foster youth. Taylor holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work from Western Michigan University.

MEDIA CONTACT –

Chelsea S. Reed | Founder, Sparrow Reed Communications
sparrowreedcommunications@gmail.com | 317-353-3064