Motivating Improved Attendance (MIA): Encouragement, Partnership, and Progress Across the Suncoast

Improving school attendance is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen a child’s learning trajectory—especially in the early grades. When students are consistently present, they have greater access to instruction, stronger opportunities to build foundational reading skills, and more meaningful connections with peers and educators. Yet, across communities nationwide, chronic absenteeism remains a persistent challenge, often shaped by barriers that families cannot resolve on their own.

This fall, the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (SCGLR), with generous support from The Patterson Foundation, partnered with elementary schools across Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties to implement Motivating Improved Attendance (MIA), a positive and proactive initiative designed to strengthen attendance habits early in the school year. MIA is built on a simple belief: students benefit when schools and families are supported with encouragement, tools, and a shared commitment to success. The initiative centers on strengthening school-home relationships, providing clear and consistent attendance messaging, and recognizing progress—because improvement deserves to be celebrated.

Why Attendance Matters
Research shows that missing 10% of the school year—just two days per month—can place students at risk of falling behind academically. In the early grades, those missed days have an outsized effect. They impact reading readiness, disrupt routines, and can make it difficult for children to build the consistent learning momentum they need.

Attendance is also one of the clearest indicators of engagement and stability. For many families, barriers such as transportation issues, health concerns, housing instability, or caregiving responsibilities can quietly contribute to missed days. MIA approaches these challenges through a lens of partnership and support, rather than blame.

How Motivating Improved Attendance Works
MIA begins early, using real-time attendance information to identify students who may be at risk of chronic absenteeism before patterns become entrenched.

During the first 35 instructional days of school, participating schools tracked attendance and flagged students in PreK through 5th grade who had missed 10% or more of the school days. This early identification allowed schools to intervene with encouragement and support at the moment it could matter most.

Beginning October 1, schools closely monitored attendance through Thanksgiving Break, with special focus on helping identified students build stronger habits during a clearly defined window of time. Schools were encouraged to connect directly with families to better understand barriers, share available school and community supports, and strengthen relationships through positive, caring outreach.

SCGLR supported participating schools throughout the intervention period by providing:

• Positive and customizable family communication tools
• Attendance resources and messaging support
• Guidance to help frame outreach conversations in strengths-based ways
• Encouragement and technical assistance to sustain momentum

At the conclusion of the monitoring period, schools reviewed attendance outcomes and recognized students who demonstrated improvement. Students who had two or fewer additional absences during the monitoring window received an Improved Attendance Certificate, an Improved Attendance pin, and a $25 WaWa gift card.

This recognition component is a key feature of MIA. It communicates to students that effort matters, that change is possible, and that showing up is an achievement worth celebrating.

Regional Impact and Outcomes
The results from fall 2025 showed meaningful progress across the four-county region.

Across the 45 participating elementary schools, 39% of the students identified by the initiative as missing 10% or more of the first 35 days of school showed improved attendance.

By county, participation outcomes included:

• Charlotte County (7 participating schools): 41% showed improved attendance
• DeSoto County (3 participating schools): 35% showed improved attendance
• Manatee County (10 participating schools): 42% showed improved attendance
• Sarasota County (24 participating schools): 37% showed improved attendance

These numbers represent more than data points—they represent students showing up more often, families strengthening routines, and schools creating a culture where attendance improvement is noticed and appreciated.

What Schools Are Seeing: Real Momentum in Sarasota County
While MIA is grounded in measurable outcomes, its value is also reflected in the changes schools experience day to day: stronger communication, increased student pride, and more responsive partnerships with families.

Sarasota County Schools Assistant Principal Erica Brusoe shared an encouraging update from her school community that captures the spirit and impact of Motivating Improved Attendance:

“We have noticed a drastic improvement in our attendance this school year. For example, our percentage of students chronically absent has dropped from 20% this time last year to 13% this year! Communication with parents about attendance is better than ever, and students are invested in doing their part to demonstrate healthy attendance habits. All in all, we have seen some GREAT strides this year! We appreciate the partnership and look forward to more great growth in semester 2.” — Erica Brusoe, Assistant Principal, Sarasota County Schools

Her words underscore what MIA is designed to support: not only improved attendance, but improved relationships. When families are engaged in a positive way and students are recognized for their progress, attendance becomes a shared goal rather than a source of stress.

Why MIA Matters
Motivating Improved Attendance is not a one-time incentive program. It is a relationship-centered strategy that helps schools intervene early, communicate intentionally, and build positive momentum before absenteeism becomes chronic.

At its core, MIA is about strengthening what already exists in school communities: educators’ dedication, families’ hopes, and the potential in every child. It provides tools and encouragement that help schools and families work together toward the shared aspiration of student success.

Because every day matters. And every student deserves to be present, supported, and celebrated.