View in EDS

Lifting up Attendance in Rural Districts: A Multi-Site Trial of a Personalized Messaging Campaign. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1189

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Lifting up Attendance in Rural Districts: A Multi-Site Trial of a Personalized Messaging Campaign. EdWorkingPaper No. 25-1189
Language: English
Authors: Elise Swanson, Sativa Thompson, Jennifer Ash, Hayley Didriksen, Thomas J. Kane, Douglas O. Staiger, Lisa Sanbonmatsu, Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University
Source: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. 2025.
Availability: Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. Brown University Box 1985, Providence, RI 02912. Tel: 401-863-7990; Fax: 401-863-1290; e-mail: annenberg@brown.edu; Web site: https://annenberg.brown.edu/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 54
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R305C190004
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Rural Schools, Attendance, Intervention, Information Systems, School Districts, Barriers, COVID-19, Pandemics, Cost Effectiveness, Pilot Projects, Technology Integration, Electronic Mail, Telecommunications, Computer Mediated Communication, Parent School Relationship, Compliance (Psychology), Elementary Secondary Education, Learner Engagement, Parent Teacher Cooperation, Program Effectiveness
Geographic Terms: Ohio, New York
Abstract: Student absenteeism has remained high following the COVID-19 pandemic and districts need low-cost strategies to improve attendance. In 2020-21, the National Center for Rural Education Research Networks piloted a promising personalized messaging intervention in 8 rural districts in New York and Ohio. We worked with a student information system provider to replicate the intervention in a randomized trial in 47 districts in 16 states between 2022-23 and 2023-24. We find that the personalized messages reduced student absences by between 1.7 (p<0.05) and 4.5 percent (p<0.05) and cost, on average, $4.07 per student to implement. We report on implementation challenges and heterogeneous effects across student populations. Our findings have practical implications for implementing technology-based interventions in the rural context.
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: ED673996
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Student absenteeism has remained high following the COVID-19 pandemic and districts need low-cost strategies to improve attendance. In 2020-21, the National Center for Rural Education Research Networks piloted a promising personalized messaging intervention in 8 rural districts in New York and Ohio. We worked with a student information system provider to replicate the intervention in a randomized trial in 47 districts in 16 states between 2022-23 and 2023-24. We find that the personalized messages reduced student absences by between 1.7 (p<0.05) and 4.5 percent (p<0.05) and cost, on average, $4.07 per student to implement. We report on implementation challenges and heterogeneous effects across student populations. Our findings have practical implications for implementing technology-based interventions in the rural context.