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Improving Chronic Absenteeism Network (ICAN)

Improving Chronic Absenteeism Network (ICAN)

Improving Chronic Absenteeism Network (ICAN) focuses on reducing chronic absenteeism across San Diego County. Chronic absenteeism is defined as a child missing 10% or more of a school year. In San Diego County one in four students is missing 10%, or 18 days, each year. Students who are chronically absent are less likely to read proficiency by 3rd grade, are less likely to connect and foster relationships with peers and educators in the school setting and show higher rates of dropout in high school.

Each year, ICAN launches an improvement network that supports a cohort of up to 20 schools to lean into chronic absenteeism and improve attendance systems and structures. ICAN is guided by the principles of improvement science and uses four key drivers to inform school team inquiry and learning: relationships, communication, climate and culture, and team foundations and routines.  

Each year cohorts are structured by school attendance teams and a district sponsor.  These teams are then supported by SDCOE improvement staff with four face-to-face learning sessions, three virtual action period check-ins, and ongoing coaching support.  

ICAN is currently supporting its fifth cohort and has worked with over 90 schools serving over 54,000 students helping them to reduce their overall chronic absenteeism rate by over 4,000 students. 

School teams and districts are invited to join our ICAN information sessions, beginning in January 2025 to learn more about the ICAN network for the 2025-2026 school year.  

To learn more, please contact:

Janet Medrano
Administrative Assistant I
ICAN@sdcoe.net 

Julia Bridi
Executive Leadership Coach
julia.bridi@sdcoe.net