Dear County and District Superintendents, Charter School Administrators, and School Attendance Review Board Members:

2023–24 Model School Attendance Review Board Recognition Program

I invite you to apply to be a participant in the 2023–24 Model School Attendance Review Board (SARB) Recognition Program, sponsored by the California Department of Education (CDE) in cooperation with the California Association of Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance (CASCWA).

The Model SARB Recognition Program Application has been revised to prioritize and elevate multitiered attendance improvement programs at the district or county level that emphasize nonpunitive, comprehensive student and family support.

Consistent student attendance is more important than ever, but all local educational agencies throughout the state experienced unprecedented levels of chronic absenteeism throughout the pandemic, especially during our efforts to safely return to in-person instruction. Schools and districts have dedicated more funding than ever before toward initiatives to increase attendance. Even with these investments, many schools have struggled to return to prepandemic attendance rates. That is why programs like the Model SARB Recognition Program are so relevant in 2023–24. If chosen for this recognition, the Model SARBs will serve as coaches and mentors for developing SARB programs. In this way, the Model SARB Recognition Program is one of CDE’s key interventions to improve attendance across the state.

This year, there are four content areas in the application. Content Area 2 is the most critical as it requires applicants to describe in detail the different tiers of support they provide to students and their families. The description here should detail the range of offered supports from the first universal tier that creates a welcoming school climate to the intensive individual student and family treatment options as part of tier three interventions.

Summarized below are the four required content areas for inclusion in your application.

• Content Area 1—Overview of the School Attendance Review Board Program
• Content Area 2—Multitiered Interventions for Attendance
• Content Area 3—Attendance Staff Roles and Responsibilities; School Attendance Review Board Collaboration and Qualifications
• Content Area 4—Three Letters of Support

The CDE encourages county and local SARBs that meet the eligibility criteria to submit an application to the Model SARB Recognition Program.

The Model SARB Recognition Program Application is available on the CDE Model SARB Recognition Program web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ai/sb/modelrecognition.asp. Applications are due by 4 p.m. on January 12, 2024. The application must be submitted electronically in accordance with the instructions included in the application.

The Model SARB Recognition Program award recipients will be recognized at the annual CASCWA State Conference scheduled for April 24–26, 2024, in Monterey, California.

If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact the Educational Options Office by email at cwa@cde.ca.gov.

Sincerely,

Tony Thurmond
State Superintendent of Public Instruction