May 2026 State SARB Subcommittee Meeting Minutes
Preliminary Report of Actions/Draft Minutes for the May 8, 2026, State School Attendance Review Board (SARB) Subcommittee Meeting.Agenda
Item 01: Call to Order/Opening Remarks
Item 02: Approval of Agenda
Item 03: Statewide Training of Key Personnel Based on the California Attendance Guide
Item 04: Supervisor of Attendance training California Education Code Language
Item 05: Existing Training Components
Item 06: Next Steps and Future Meetings
Item 07: Public Comment
Item 08: Closing Remarks and Adjournment
Item 01: Call to Order/Opening Remarks
Type of Action: Information/Action
The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Allegra Alessandri at approximately 9:33 a.m. Chairperson Allegra Alessandri welcomed attendees, noted this was an exciting milestone as the first substantive subcommittee meeting of the year following the election of the Facilitator, Co-facilitator, and Secretary at the prior meeting. Allegra then turned facilitation over to Facilitator Mike Winters.
Facilitator Mike Winters acknowledged additional attendees who were not yet on the formal roll and indicated they would be added for future meetings.Roll Call
Type of Action: Action
Members Participating Remotely: Elizabeth Bahn, Jane Claar, Nyeisha DeWitt, Jennifer Elenes, Jennifer Gomeztrejo, Sheri Hanni, Amalia Lopez, Tracy Schmidt, Mike Winters.
Members Absent: Angela Chandler, Laura Faer, Ryan Gallagher, Sherman Garnett, Jamie Parsons.
Quorum was established with nine members participating.
Item 02: Approval of Agenda
Type of Action: Information/Action
A motion to approve the agenda was made by Member Sheri Hanni.
Member Elizabeth Bahn seconded the motion.
Yes Votes: Elizabeth Bahn, Jane Claar, Nyeisha DeWitt, Jennifer Elenes, Jennifer Gomeztrejo, Sheri Hanni, Amalia Lopez, Tracy Schmidt, Mike Winters.
No Votes: None.
Abstentions: None.
Absent: Angela Chandler, Laura Faer, Ryan Gallagher, Sherman Garnett, Jamie Parsons.
The motion passed with nine votes.
Item 03: Statewide Training of Key Personnel Based on the California Attendance Guide
Type of Action: Information/Discussion
Member Sheri Hanni explained the subcommittee was created to address a longstanding need within State SARB to standardize the core content of attendance supervisor training across California. While many counties and regions already offer training independently, there has been no unified effort to define what constitutes comprehensive, high-quality training. The subcommittee’s goal is to develop a flexible framework or minimum standards, not a mandated or prescriptive training model.
A key driver behind this effort is current fiscal pressures facing school districts. Budget deficits are resulting in staff reductions and role reassignments, meaning more individuals with limited experience are now responsible for attendance supervision. This creates urgency for a clear, accessible training structure, particularly over the next two years.
Members emphasized that:
- The goal is to develop a framework that provides sufficient consistency across the state while allowing local flexibility in implementation.
- It should support diverse district contexts, from large urban systems to small rural districts with limited staffing.
- Smaller districts, which often face higher chronic absenteeism and fewer dedicated staff, may benefit most from improved training access.
The subcommittee’s work complements existing efforts like the California Attendance Guide, focusing specifically on practical implementation (“nuts and bolts”) rather than policy.
Item 04: Supervisor of Attendance training California Education Code Language
Type of Action: Information/Discussion
Member Jennifer Gomeztrejo explained California Education Code (EC) Section 48245
requires certification for supervisors of attendance in districts with 1,000 or more students in average daily attendance (ADA). The statute, enacted in 1976, is outdated and no longer aligns with current goals for reducing chronic absenteeism. Concerns included the exemption of smaller districts from certification requirements, the absence of any recertification timeline, and the lack of explicit inclusion of charter schools.
Discussion emphasized the need to modernize EC Section 48245
to ensure equity and consistency across all districts. Members highlighted that smaller districts, often most affected by chronic absenteeism, would benefit from required certification and regular training. There was strong support for establishing a defined recertification cycle, such as every two years, to ensure supervisors remain informed about evolving laws, practices, and expectations.
The members and public commentors (group) also stressed that training for supervisors of attendance should extend beyond basic compliance to include broader areas required by law. This includes integrating behavioral interventions as outlined in EC Section 48240(b)(3)
, recognizing that discipline practices like suspension and expulsion can significantly contribute to student absences. Additionally, members recommended incorporating student consultation requirements from EC Section 48321
and ensuring familiarity with countywide plans for expelled youth under EC Section 48926
, including how students are placed and supported.
Finally, the group acknowledged a gap in enforcement: while certification is required for larger districts, there is no formal statewide compliance system, and accountability currently rests with County Offices of Education. Based on these discussions, the subcommittee developed draft recommendations to update EC Section 48245
by removing the ADA threshold, including charter schools, establishing a recertification requirement, and aligning the law with statewide priorities. These proposals will be refined and presented to the State SARB for further consideration.
Item 05: Existing Training Components
Type of Action: Information/Discussion
Facilitator Mike Winters engaged the subcommittee to identify the core components of a comprehensive annual training framework for supervisors of attendance. Using a structured brainstorming approach, members contributed ideas simultaneously, drawing in part from existing regional training models such as the 2025 NorCal and San Diego County Office of Education training. The goal of this session was to generate a broad and inclusive list of topics that can later be refined and organized into a cohesive statewide framework.
The proposed components emphasize a strong foundation in legal and statutory knowledge, including key EC provisions governing attendance, supervisor responsibilities, excused absences, and requirements related to SARB, student consultation, and services for expelled youth. The group also underscored the importance of understanding attendance coding across different educational settings, exemptions to compulsory education, and audit implications, ensuring that supervisors are equipped with both legal clarity and technical accuracy.
Another major focus was on SARB structure, governance, and system-building, with attention to developing effective attendance teams, understanding the authority and responsibilities of SARBs, and strengthening coordination between districts and County Offices of Education. Members highlighted the need for practical guidance on building and sustaining strong attendance systems, including mentorship opportunities through model SARB programs.
The framework also prioritizes data use and policy alignment, encouraging supervisors to analyze both state and local attendance data, connect findings to Local Control and Accountability Plan goals and funding, and align practices with local policies and statewide guidance. This includes understanding reporting requirements, parent notification obligations, and leveraging tools like DataQuest and the California School Dashboard.
In terms of practice, the training should incorporate a robust Multi-Tiered System of Support approach, offering concrete strategies for intervention such as student conferencing, home visits, and School Attendance Review Team processes. Guidance on attendance recovery, independent study options, and navigating complex enrollment or homeschooling situations was also identified as essential.
The group further emphasized that attendance work must address behavior, discipline, and school climate, recognizing that disciplinary actions can directly impact attendance. Training should therefore integrate social-emotional considerations, special education requirements, and knowledge of alternative education placements and support services.
An equity-centered lens was also considered critical, with attention to special populations such as homeless and foster youth, and the need to address systemic barriers to attendance. The group stressed the importance of understanding each student’s lived experience, including trauma and individual challenges, when designing interventions.
Finally, the framework highlights the role of student voice, family engagement, and community collaboration. The group encouraged moving beyond basic surveys to meaningful student consultation, engaging families as partners, and strengthening connections with community agencies and school staff. Incorporating feedback from students who have successfully exited SARB processes was identified as a valuable strategy for continuous improvement.
Overall, the discussion produced a comprehensive and multidimensional set of training components intended to guide the development of a flexible, statewide attendance supervisor training framework.
Item 06: Next Steps and Future Meetings
Type of Action: Information/Discussion
Preliminary meeting minutes will be posted before the next subcommittee meeting to ensure transparency and keep stakeholders informed. The brainstorming input on training components will be compiled, organized, and developed into a structured thematic framework document for subcommittee review.
In addition, an update summarizing the subcommittee’s progress and recommendations, particularly those related to proposed revisions to EC Section 48245
, will be prepared for presentation at the May 21, 2026, State SARB meeting. Finally, the next subcommittee meeting will be scheduled for early June 2026.
Item 07: Public Comment
Type of Action: Information
No public comments were received.
Item 08: Closing Remarks and Adjournment
Type of Action: Information
Chairperson Allegra Alessandri thanked all participants for a productive session.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:22 a.m.
Note: These meeting minutes were generated with assistance from Microsoft Copilot.