Quick look: School Attendance Review Boards — or SARBs — bring together educators, families and community partners to address the root causes of chronic absenteeism. Two local districts were recently recognized by the state, highlighting a broader shift toward early support and student-centered solutions.
When students miss school, the reasons are rarely simple.
What may look like truancy can stem from health issues, family responsibilities, anxiety, or challenges getting to campus. In Orange County, School Attendance Review Boards — or SARBs — are designed to look beyond the absence itself and understand what’s behind it.
These district-level teams bring together educators and community partners to help students reconnect with school, often by linking families to resources and support systems they may not know exist.
The approach has evolved over time. While SARBs were once seen primarily as a formal step in the attendance process, today they are increasingly part of a broader effort to intervene early and support students before patterns become entrenched.
“SARBs continue to play a critical role in addressing attendance and engagement challenges, especially as schools work to reestablish consistent routines and respond to ongoing barriers facing students and families,” said Terrance Dunn, coordinator of Child Welfare and Attendance within the Orange County Department of Education’s Student Services division.
Model programs in California
That shift toward prevention is showing up across the county — and gaining recognition at the state level.
This year, the Orange and Santa Ana unified school districts were named 2026 Model SARB recipients by the California Department of Education, placing them among a small group of districts statewide recognized for their work.
Their recognition reflects a larger trend in Orange County, where districts have been building more coordinated, student-centered attendance systems.
At the heart of that work is a simple idea: Attendance improves when students feel supported and connected.
“Attendance improves when systems support people,” said Mark McLaughlin, coordinator of Student and Community Services for Orange Unified. “Our SARB process ensures students and their families are heard, not just processed. We are committed to turning every challenge into a clear, connected path back to student success.”
California’s SARB framework emphasizes early identification and intervention, encouraging schools to respond to warning signs before they escalate. Increasingly, that means using data to spot patterns early, engaging families as partners, and addressing underlying needs such as mental health, transportation or housing stability.
Chronic absenteeism rates falling
Local data suggests those efforts are making a difference. Chronic absenteeism in Orange County has declined from a pandemic-era high of 21 percent in 2021–22 to 14 percent in 2024–25, according to data shared at the Orange County State of Education. Fewer students are experiencing the most severe levels of absence, and more are showing meaningful improvement after receiving SARB support.
“Through our SARB meetings, we’re seeing how early, collaborative intervention can change a student’s trajectory,” said Sarah Coley, administrative director of Student Services for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. “SARB allows us to partner closely with families, identify the causes of absences and connect students and families to the right supports before challenges become more serious.”
“This proactive approach has helped us strengthen relationships and remove barriers for students to feel supported, engaged, and ready to succeed in school,” she said.
For Dunn, the county’s progress points to a broader shift in how attendance is understood.
“Attendance is really a reflection of how well systems are supporting students,” he said. “When we work together to remove barriers and build trust with families, we see better outcomes.”
OCDE plays a coordinating role in that effort, helping districts share practices, align approaches and build capacity countywide. The result is a growing network of support that extends beyond individual schools or districts.
And while statewide recognition highlights standout programs, the goal is broader: ensuring every student has the opportunity — and the support — to show up and succeed.