Specialist III - Attendance

The Specialist III
- Attendance plays a critical leadership role in advancing Baltimore City Schools' efforts to improve student attendance, reduce chronic absenteeism, and ensure equitable access to educational opportunities for all students. Under the direction of the Director, Office of Student Conduct and Attendance, the Specialist III collaborates with central office departments, school-based leaders, attendance leads, students, families, community organizations, and external agencies to develop, implement, and monitor comprehensive attendance strategies that promote student engagement and academic success.

The Specialist III provides leadership in the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of district wide attendance policies, procedures, guidance documents, and best practices. Using attendance data, early warning indicators, and trend analyses, the Specialist III identifies barriers to student attendance and works collaboratively with schools to implement evidence-based interventions that improve attendance outcomes. The position requires a comprehensive understanding of the complex social, economic, behavioral, and health-related factors that influence student attendance and achievement.

The Specialist III ensures compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, regulations, Board policies, and court mandates related to attendance, including those governing students with disabilities, students experiencing homelessness, foster care students, and other vulnerable populations. The position oversees the collection, maintenance, and analysis of accurate documentation and records to ensure accountability, regulatory compliance, and effective service delivery.

The Specialist III serves as a liaison between schools, families, community partners, and district offices to coordinate attendance initiatives, provide technical assistance, facilitate professional learning, and support school leaders in implementing multi-tiered attendance improvement strategies. The Specialist III also monitors district attendance performance, prepares reports for executive leadership, and recommends systemic improvements that strengthen attendance practices across the district.

• Utilizes quantitative and qualitative data to identify district wide trends, evaluate program effectiveness, monitor school performance, and recommend strategic improvements that increase student attendance.
• Monitors attendance, chronic absenteeism, and truancy trends; coordinates appropriate interventions; and collaborates with schools, families, and legal partners regarding truancy prevention, court referrals, and court-ordered interventions when necessary.
• Provides ongoing onsite coaching, consultation, and technical assistance to school leaders and school-based attendance teams in the areas of attendance improvement planning, data analysis, root cause analysis, continuous improvement (PDSA Cycles), and evidence-based attendance interventions.
• Develops, implements, and continuously refines a comprehensive district wide attendance strategy that integrates student wholeness, family engagement, community partnerships, restorative practices, and multi-tiered systems of support.
• Provides regular in-person support to schools by reviewing attendance data, monitoring attendance improvement efforts, identifying barriers to attendance, and assisting school teams with implementing targeted interventions.
• Provides intensive case management for students experiencing significant attendance challenges by:
  • Collaborating with school staff to identify students requiring individualized interventions.
  • Meeting with students and families to determine root causes of chronic absenteeism and develop individualized attendance success plans.
  • Maintaining regular communication with students, families, and school personnel to monitor progress and adjust interventions as needed.
  • Conducting student check-ins, when appropriate, to strengthen relationships and identify additional supports.
  • Develops and maintains collaborative partnerships with community-based organizations, universities, government agencies, health providers, and other external stakeholders to increase access to resources that improve student attendance and engagement.
  • Maintains a comprehensive understanding of current research, state guidance, district initiatives, and best practices related to attendance improvement and ensures effective dissemination and implementation across the district.
  • Designs and delivers professional learning, technical assistance, coaching, and implementation tools that build the capacity of principals, assistant principals, attendance teams, social workers, community school coordinators, and other school-based personnel to implement effective attendance improvement strategies and incentive programs.
  • Establishes and maintains productive professional relationships with principals, assistant principals, district administrators, community organizations, local government…