Chronic Absenteeism Cut in Half at 10th & Penn Elementary School in Reading

Communities In Schools of Eastern PA
May 27
3 min read

Summary

This case study illustrates how Communities In Schools of Eastern Pennsylvania addressed persistent non-academic barriers to student achievement at 10th & Penn Elementary School in the Reading School District. Through a coordinated focus on chronic absenteeism, attendance incentives, and family engagement, CIS helped the school significantly reduce absenteeism and build a stronger culture of attendance.

I. The Challenge

Prior to CIS engagement, 10th & Penn Elementary School struggled with one of the highest chronic absenteeism rates in the district:

During the 2022–2023 school year, the chronic absenteeism rate stood at 53.3%, meaning over half of the student body was chronically absent.
Poor attendance correlated with academic underperformance and social-emotional challenges across multiple grade levels.
A substantial portion of referrals to the CIS site coordinator—37.5%—cited attendance issues.
Underlying these patterns were significant socioeconomic barriers, including housing instability, food insecurity, and limited access to transportation and mental health services.
Family engagement was inconsistent, and the school lacked the resources for sustained outreach and support.

II. The CIS Model

CIS of Eastern PA began partnering with 10th & Penn Elementary School in the 2022–2023 school year to help reverse attendance trends and engage families more deeply in student success.

Key components of the CIS model at 10th & Penn included:

On-site Coordination: A dedicated site coordinator was placed in the school to lead the development of student support plans and build trust with families.
Data-Driven Needs Assessment: CIS conducted annual assessments to identify absentee trends and student needs, informing targeted interventions.
Attendance-Focused Support: Of all supports provided by CIS, 77% were related to attendance incentives, showing the school’s commitment to promoting consistent attendance.
Individualized Case Management: 59% of students on the CIS caseload had a specific attendance goal. These students received personalized support, mentoring, and regular check-ins.
Family Engagement: Home visits and ongoing communication were used to build relationships with families and address root causes of absenteeism.
Collaboration: CIS worked in partnership with teachers, administrators, and community-based organizations to coordinate interventions.

III. The Results

The impact of CIS’s partnership was clear and measurable:

The chronic absenteeism rate decreased from 53.3% in 2022–2023 to 35% at the beginning of 2023–2024, and then further dropped to 26% by the end of the 2023–2024 school year.
This represents an overall improvement of 27.3 percentage points and an 18.3% year-over-year reduction in absenteeism from the start of 2022–2023 to the start of 2023–2024, within a margin of error less than 2%.
Students with attendance goals in their case plans made noticeable progress, and referrals tied to absenteeism saw responsive support.
Family engagement improved through direct outreach, including consistent home visits and bilingual communication efforts.
The school’s culture began to shift toward one that values and celebrates daily attendance through student recognition and community involvement.

“Now I come to school because I don’t want to miss out,” shared one 4th-grade student. “They make it fun to be here, and my site coordinator always checks in.”

IV. Conclusion / Looking Ahead

The partnership between CIS of Eastern PA and 10th & Penn Elementary has demonstrated the powerful role that wraparound supports and attendance-focused interventions can play in turning around student outcomes.

CIS and school leaders plan to expand Tier I supports to benefit all students, not just those case-managed, including more consistent school-wide attendance incentives.
The school’s improvement in attendance aligns with Reading School District’s broader goals for equity, engagement, and academic achievement.
CIS will continue to work with local partners to address barriers like transportation, housing instability, and access to healthcare to ensure students are present, supported, and ready to learn.

Join CIS of Eastern PA in helping students overcome barriers and build a path to success—starting with showing up.