Addressing Chronic Absenteeism with the WhyTry Approach
Join us for this important free lunchtime webinar for New York educators!
Wednesday April 30th at 12:00pm Eastern
Chronic Absenteeism is Rising — and the Time to Act is Now
In New York State, nearly one in three students is now considered chronically absent, according to the recent report Missing School: New York’s Stubbornly High Rates of Chronic Absenteeism. In response, the state is updating its accountability system with a new Attendance Index, underscoring how critical it has become to address not just attendance numbers — but the root causes of disengagement.
Join us for a free webinar designed especially for New York educators, school leaders, and community teams. We’ll move beyond the data to explore what really drives chronic absenteeism — and share practical, relationship-centered strategies that schools can use to rebuild student connection, belonging, and motivation.
In this session, we’ll explore:
- Why attendance issues are a warning sign of deeper disengagement and disconnection.
- Research-informed strategies that help students feel seen, supported, and motivated to show up.
- How building relationships and resilience can be a powerful lever for improving attendance.
- Actionable approaches that align with New York’s focus on multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) and whole-child frameworks.
Who should attend:
- Community school coordinators
- School administrators
- Counselors, social workers, and student support teams
- Teachers and staff working on student engagement initiatives
- Anyone passionate about strengthening school culture and student connection
“Nearly one-third of New York students are chronically absent — but behind every number is a story. Let’s work together to change those stories for the better.”
– Christian Moore L.C.S.W.
Social worker, student advocate, author of the best selling book “The Resilience Breakthrough“
Meet Our Speaker
Christian Moore, a leading expert on resilience, brings a message that resonates with educators, students, and leaders alike. A former special education student once labeled as hopeless, Christian defied expectations and developed a revolutionary approach to resilience—one that has now reached millions.
Through powerful storytelling, humor, and hands-on strategies, Christian’s keynote will transform the way your audience thinks about adversity. His message is more than inspiration—it’s a roadmap for real change.
Why This Matters
Chronic absenteeism isn’t just a statistic — it’s a signal. When students don’t feel safe, supported, or connected, it shows up first in their attendance. As New York districts face rising absenteeism rates and increased state-level accountability, building relationships and relevance is more important than ever.
Join us for a hopeful, actionable conversation about how we can bring students back — and keep them engaged.
This webinar will provide practical strategies you can use immediately to help students build resilience, foster emotional wellness, and create a supportive learning environment where they feel safe, seen, and ready to succeed.
What You’ll Take Away
✔ Real-world strategies to support student mental and behavioral health
✔ Practical tools to help students develop resilience
✔ Ideas to foster a culture of emotional wellness in your schools