A Better Chicago Partners with IAFC to Expand Work on Chronic Absenteeism

Thanks to the generous support of A Better Chicago, Illinois Action for Children (IAFC) will expand its impact in the fight against chronic absenteeism, with a transformational grant as part of A Better Chicago’s Every Day Counts initiative.

The grant is a part of a five-year, $10 million effort to support innovative, community-based solutions that help students attend school consistently and strengthen their connection to their peers and learning environments.  

“It’s crucial that positive attendance habits begin as early as preschool,” said IAFC CEO April Janney. “That’s why for more than a decade, a top priority at IAFC has been promoting school attendance to reduce chronic absenteeism for all children—especially for students experiencing challenging social and economic circumstances.”  

IAFC was selected as one of four organizations to receive funding to address absenteeism, in neighborhoods where attendance challenges remain among the highest in Chicago.

Through the partnership with Every Day Counts, IAFC will expand our Community Connections Chronic Absenteeism Initiative, building on our successful work with PreK through third grade families and extending our support to families through eighth grade in the Garfield Park and Austin community. 

Dedicated case managers will work with school personnel to identify attendance concerns early, connect families with critical resources, and help remove barriers that prevent students from getting to school each day.  

In addition to including higher grade levels, the program will introduce a peer attendance leadership model, empowering middle school students to encourage positive attendance habits among their classmates.  

Since 2015, IAFC’s Community Connections program has successfully partnered with schools, community organizations, and parents to address the root causes of chronic absenteeism on Chicago’s West Side. It is one of many vital IAFC programs fueled and sustained by philanthropy.  

The program’s model focuses on authentic family engagement, strong community partnerships, school capacity building, and the strategic use of data to identify and support students struggling with attendance. Addressing chronic absenteeism beginning in preschool leads to better academic achievement, stronger literacy and math skills, improved social-emotional development, and increased school engagement. 

IAFC’s Community Connections program in North Lawndale has also contributed to meaningful gains in literacy achievement, with 63% of participating students meeting growth benchmarks on Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Reading assessments. These outcomes reinforce what IAFC has long understood: when we support families and address challenges, students are more likely to attend school regularly and succeed academically. 

Investments like A Better Chicago’s Every Day Counts initiative recognize the importance of community-driven solutions. By expanding our work in Community Connections, IAFC can support more families, strengthen school-family relationships, and help ensure that more children thrive in and out of the classroom.  

Learn more about Community Connections, Every Day Counts, and the other organizations selected to receive grants.