Connecticut State Department of Education
Talk Tuesdays - Student Attendance and Engagement
Overview
Talk Tuesdays are information sharing sessions that provide district and school staff an opportunity to support each other and their work to improve student attendance and engagement. Virtual sessions are a quick way to stay in touch with a network of support. One hour sessions are held every other Tuesday and engage state agency, district and school staff in an open dialogue around student attendance and engagement. Meetings are open to all working to improve engagement and attendance – school, district and community members.
The objectives of Talk Tuesdays are to:1) stay up-to-date on state policies, practices, events and issues; 2) share successes and lessons learned, 3) trouble-shoot common concerns and 4) provide overall support to each other. Participants help identify the topics for future meetings, present problems of practice, and spend time together expanding our knowledge and capacity to engage students in school.
Register for Talk Tuesdays (one time registration for all sessions) at: https://serc.info/tues2324. If you have trouble registering, please contact Holli Ryan at ryan@ctserc.org.
Talk Tuesday Sessions 2023-24
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High School Student Panel on Attendance Nicole Vitale, SERC, March 5, 2024. Recording coming soon!
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High School Attendance Affinity Group Series Ann Marie Cordisco and Elisa Laudati, SERC, February 6, 2024. Watch recording!
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Improving Attendance by Addressing Homelessness and Housing Instability Louis Tallarita, LMSW, Education Consultant, CSDE, January 23, 2024. Watch recording!
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Mobile Crisis and Urgent Crisis Centers Stephanie Bozak, Psy.D., Behavioral Health Clinical Manager of Children's Mental Health at Department of Children and Families; Rosa Baldino, LCSW, Project Coordinator at Wellness Behavioral Health; and Brittni Lourenco, Clinical Supervisor at Mobile Crisis; January 9, 2024. Watch recording!
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Family Engagement- Supporting Multilingual and Immigrant Families Nitza Diaz, SERC Consultant, and Lourdes Delgado- Faith and Education Coalition, National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, (Retired Principal Bridgeport PS), December 12, 2023, Watch recording!
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Executive Functioning, Mental Health, and Attendance Christine Kuehlewind and Elisa Laudati, SERC, November 28, 2023, Watch recording!
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Building School Love: Tap the Power of School-based Mentoring Najla Staggers, The Governor’s Prevention Partnership, November 14, 2023, Watch recording!
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Hartford Public Schools ACE Team Irene Rietze and Abby Olinger Quint, October 31, 2023, Watch recording!
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BRIGHT SPOTS: Improving High School Student Attendance in Connecticut Helen Duffy, Senior Fellow, Attendance Works, and Matthew Ryan, Principal, East Hartford High School Download Report October 17, 2023, Watch recording!
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School is Better with You! Attendance Awareness Campaign Caroline Calhoun, EdAdvance, and Nicole Lenti, O'Donnell Company, October 3, 2023, Watch recording!
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Understanding and Interpreting Monthly Attendance Data for 2023-24, Briana Hennessey, Associate Education Consultant, CSDE Performance Office, September 19, 2023, Watch recording!
Summer Series 2023 - "Back to Basics"
- School Climate: Impact on Attendance Amanda Pickett, MSW, Education Consultant, CSDE, Office of Student Supports, August 8, 2023, Watch recording!
- Attendance & Engagement 101 Caroline Calhoun, EdAdvance, Professional Learning and Attendance Specialist & LEAP Coordinator, July 18, 2023, Watch recording!