State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Announces Model School Attendance Review Board Recipients for 2026

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced today that 13 School Attendance Review Boards (SARBs) have been designated as model programs by the State SARB for exemplary practices that have contributed to reducing chronic absenteeism rates and improving student attendance.

“Helping students show up to school every day is one of the most powerful ways we can support their success—not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well—especially for our most vulnerable young people,” Superintendent Thurmond said. “I’m truly grateful to each of our Model SARBs for stepping up to lead by example. Their willingness to share best practices and provide technical assistance to other SARBs, districts, and counties across California makes a real difference for students and families throughout our state.”

Model SARBs often provide sample materials, telephone consultation, and invitations to visit, see, and discuss the model SARB in person. Model SARBs may also be asked to present best practices through participation in webinars and in workshops at statewide and regional conferences.

The Model SARB Recognition Program identifies and recognizes multi-tiered school attendance improvement programs at the district or county level. This includes efforts to reduce the use of exclusionary school discipline practices of suspensions and expulsions and replace them with prevention efforts and positive alternative means of correction. Attendance interventions have been modified to address students in independent study and students in quarantines.

Early Intervention: The exemplary practices implemented by this year’s recipients share similarities. Among them are the frequent and consistent practices of the School Attendance Review Teams, whose members recognize their role as “the catalyst in supporting and improving student attendance and behavior.” A focus on early intervention is key to de-escalating trends toward chronic absenteeism, truancy, and suspension.

Professional Development: Recipients have taken the vital step of utilizing increased school funds to invest in new and existing staff. Improved professional development has focused on enhancing cultural competencies, elevating social and emotional learning, recognizing and addressing mental health needs, and engaging practices for students in remote learning. The addition of counselors and social workers has allowed for rapid and positive response aimed at mitigating the needs of disengaged students.

Family Engagement and School Connectedness: To best meet the needs of students and families, some of our recipients have adjusted the processes for attendance improvement as a way to provide students and families the individual and needed support to ensure they are successful, feel valued, and are connected to their school community. A key part of the SARB process involves asking about, respecting, and understanding students and their families within their lived experience. Communications and interventions at the school and district levels provide education to families via newsletters and attendance presentations to inform and empower parents and/or guardians. Community resources and partnerships further help mitigate the many barriers to attendance faced by students and families.

State Superintendent Thurmond convenes the State SARB, which brings together key agencies, professional organizations, and community partners for statewide policy coordination and personnel training to divert students with serious attendance and behavior problems from the juvenile justice system and reduce the number of dropouts in the state public education system.

The Model SARB Recognition awards will be presented at the California Association of Supervisors of Child Welfare and Attendance State Conference on March 16–18, 2026, in Sacramento.

For more information on the CDE Model SARB Recognition Program, please visit the CDE Model SARB Recognition Program web page.

2026 Model SARBs and their Chairpersons

• Alvord Unified School District, Ian Fish (Riverside County)
• Clovis Unified School District, Dan Moorhead (Fresno County)
• Desert Sands Unified School District, Cathy Wuertz (Riverside County)
• Jurupa Unified School District, Olga Alferez (Riverside County)
• Kern High School District, Roberto De la Rosa Jr. (Kern County)
• Lawndale Elementary School District, Alberto Paredes (Los Angeles County)
• Lindsay Unified School District, Laura Cortes (Tulare County)
• Orange Unified School District, Mark McLaughlin (Orange County)
• Palm Springs Unified School District, Garrett Schaperjahn (Riverside County)
• Santa Ana Unified School District, Joel Cruz (Orange County)
• Upland Unified, Antonio Moreno (San Bernardino County)
• Ventura County Office of Education, Mike Winters (Ventura County)
• Ventura Unified School District, Vicky Yasenchok (Ventura County)

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Tony Thurmond — State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Communications Division, Room 5602, 916-319-0818, Fax 916-319-0100