National Recognition for Attendance Efforts
Springfield Public Schools has gained national attention for its community-driven approach to addressing student attendance challenges following the pandemic. Superintendent Grenita Lathan presented details of the district's 'Attend Today, Succeed Forever' initiative at a recent educational leadership summit.
"They actually accepted it and said we were a finalist. Did not expect to win," Lathan said in a Dec. 19 interview. "We were going against school districts from all over the country and was very shocked Wednesday night to receive the award."
Addressing Post-Pandemic Challenges
Like many districts across Missouri and the United States, Springfield experienced a significant drop in student attendance after the pandemic. In response, the district launched a comprehensive program in 2023 to raise community awareness and implement strategies for improvement.
"Regular attendance at school is the single most critical factor for student success," said Lathan, in the release.
"If students are not in class, they miss out on essential instruction and social and emotional benefits of daily interaction with their peers and teachers. Chronic absenteeism places our most under-resourced and underrepresented students at even greater risk of falling behind."
Measurable Progress
The initiative has produced tangible results, with attendance rates climbing from 90.86 percent in 2022 to 92.12 percent in 2025. This improvement contributed to the district receiving a District of Distinction award for prioritizing student engagement and well-being.
"Our award winners embody a new model of leadership — one that unites vision, trust and community engagement to build resilient, future-focused school systems," said Amy Dujon, the leadership institution's vice president of education community.
Continuing the Momentum
Lathan demonstrated her commitment to the program by promising to get drenched in Powerade if initial attendance goals were met by the end of the 2023-24 school year. She fulfilled this promise on August 1, 2024, at Kickapoo High School.
In an interview, Lathan emphasized the need for continued focus. "We're just sticking to the initiative that we launched two years ago."
Lathan added: "If something is working, you shouldn't change it. You should just continue to get the message out."
