MSD Warren is taking intentional steps to improve student attendance through a tiered intervention model grounded in structure, early action, and cross-team collaboration.
At the center of their approach is a strong belief: showing up matters and it takes an entire system to make that happen consistently.
A Cross-Functional Attendance Team
The district has built a multi-layered attendance team that includes the Assistant Superintendent, Director of Student Services, Chief Technology Officer, and other key leaders. This team meets weekly to review data, assess interventions, and coordinate responses.At the school level, counselors and administrators join the effort, ensuring that every tier of support is grounded in shared responsibility.Clear meeting cadences, defined roles, and consistent review of referrals keep the system aligned and proactive.Tiered Attendance Interventions
MSD Warren Township uses a three-tiered intervention framework to address student absenteeism:- Tier 1 focuses on universal support; such as timely and accurate attendance tracking and re-engaging students when they return from absences.
- Tier 2 includes targeted, school-level support for students with rising absence trends.
- Tier 3 delivers intensive interventions for chronically absent students, often involving external partners and family conferences.
Real-Time Data to Guide Action
To support accurate tracking and intervention planning, the district uses RaaWee K12 Attendance+. The platform helps teams manage attendance data, review referrals, and suppress absences when needed such as in cases involving medical homebound students.Systems That Move the Needle
MSD Warren Township emphasizes execution and accountability through weekly team meetings and strategic planning. They have adopted principles from The 4 Disciplines of Execution framework by Chris Hennessy and Sean Covey to focus on a few high-impact goals at a time, ensuring that everyone, from central office to campuses is working toward shared outcomes.This system-level alignment strengthens consistency and helps build a sustainable attendance culture across the district.Community Partnerships and Wraparound Supports
Recognizing that absenteeism often stems from outside the classroom, MSD Warren Township has opened the door to grassroot organizations and community agencies. These partners support students through mentoring, art therapy, and respite programs, all coordinated through the district’s centralized resource center.During attendance meetings, families are connected with community-based supports that address broader challenges from mentoring to mental health, helping the district respond more holistically to chronic absenteeism.A Unified Response Rooted in Support
MSD Warren Township’s strategy shows what’s possible when structure, data, and community come together with purpose. Through its tiered approach and focus on real-time action, the district is doing more than tracking attendance, it’s building a culture of support that helps every student feel seen, valued, and encouraged to show up.
About the Presenter
James Taylor serves as the Director of Student & Social Services at MSD Warren Township in Indianapolis, Indiana. With over a decade of experience in K–12 student support, he leads district-wide initiatives focused on attendance improvement, equity, and wraparound services. As the McKinney-Vento Liaison, James champions proactive interventions for students experiencing housing instability, and has been nationally recognized for his work in reducing truancy and promoting student well-being.
About the Presenter
Jessica Daniels, MSW, serves as a Program Navigator at the Moorhead Community Resource Center for MSD of Warren Township (Indianapolis, IN). With a Master’s in Social Work, she guides families and students through support services, connecting them to essential community resources. Jessica plays a pivotal role in advancing attendance and engagement initiatives by addressing social‑emotional barriers and ensuring equitable access to wraparound supports.
