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Mr. Schmerelson, Ms. Griego, Ms. Gonez, Ms. Newbill, Dr. Rivas, Ms. Ortiz Franklin, Mr. Melvoin - September 2026 as Child Welfare and Attendance Month (Res-004-26/27) (Noticed August 25, 2026) (Version 2)
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Whereas, The Compulsory Education Act was enacted in 1903, and the Governing Board of the Los Angeles Unified School District (District) appointed the first Attendance Officer to enforce compliance with the compulsory attendance mandate, creating the Pupil Services and Attendance Division;
Whereas, In our schools, Child Welfare & Attendance Counselors are called Pupil Services and Attendance Counselors (PSAs) and play a critical role supporting children’s safety and well-being, strengthening families by providing direct services and referrals, addressing barriers to school attendance and engagement, and reconnecting youth to schools;
Whereas, Chronic absenteeism in the District decreased from 29.5% for school year 2024-25 to 27.7% for school year 2025-26, representing continues progress while remaining above pre-pandemic levels; meanwhile, average daily attendance rates increased slightly from 92.2% to 92.6% from school year 2024-25 to 2025-26;
Whereas, PSAs identify barriers that may impact attendance and learning, facilitate linkages to services that meet the needs of the whole child while simultaneously integrating multi-tiered interventions to promote overall wellness of the family, address absenteeism, truancy, and support students of culturally diverse populations;
Whereas, PSAs support student engagement, wellness and dropout prevention, allowing increased access to college pathways, linking students and families to services, and providing comprehensive services to foster and homeless youth;
Whereas, PSAs support safe, supportive, and inclusive school environments by connecting students and families to resources, addressing barriers to educational access, and promoting student engagement and well-being for all students regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race or ethnicity, citizenship or immigration status, or socioeconomic status;
Whereas, PSAs re-engage out-of-school youth back into an educational setting by providing personalized pathways that further their children's educational, personal, and social growth;
Whereas, The Association of Pupil Services and Attendance Counselors (APSAC) has declared the last Tuesday of September as the Child Welfare and Attendance (PSA) Counselor Day; now, therefore be it
Resolved, That the Governing Board of the Los Angeles Unified School District hereby
declares the month of September 2026 as Child Welfare and Attendance Month and
the last Tuesday of September as the Pupil Services and Attendance Counselors Day;
Resolved further, That the Superintendent or a designee will continue to provide an annual update to the Board information on strategies and efforts to reduce chronic absenteeism throughout the District, including progress towards related goals;
Resolved further, That in the current social, political, and economic climate, students and families may face a range of barriers that can affect their ability to fully participate in school, social and community life, all of which are important to their personal, emotional, and academic growth, therefore, the District will continue to support all students and families, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race or ethnicity, citizenship or immigration status, socioeconomic status, or other circumstances through existing District and community resources, services, and supports, while enhancing and directing resources to communities and student populations experiencing barriers to educational access, engagement, and wellbeing throughout its jurisdiction; and, be it, finally
Resolved, That the District will continue to promote attendance awareness through District websites and social media outlets, informed by the Student Support and Attendance Services Branch, as they continue to provide relationship-based outreach and engagement including home visits to address barriers to attendance, and bring students back to school, and re-engage families to strengthen child welfare in our communities.