Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington Celebrates the Launch of the Attendance Matters Phoenix Campaign to Boost Student Attendance Citywide

During today’s Community Services and Education Subcommittee meeting, the City of Phoenix, in partnership with Valley of the Sun United Way, Read On Arizona, Read On Phoenix, and the Helios Education Foundation, announced the launch of Attendance Matters Phoenix, a new citywide effort to reduce chronic absenteeism and strengthen consistent school attendance. Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10 percent or more of the school year, remains a critical challenge for Phoenix students. Although local school districts have made progress, with average absenteeism decreasing from 28.73 percent in 2023 to 22.52 percent in 2025, attendance rates still vary widely across the city.

"In District 8 and throughout Phoenix, every student deserves the opportunity to thrive. By uplifting this message citywide and partnering with the Phoenix Children’s Museum, right here in our district, we are reinforcing that students are set for success both now and in the future," said Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington, who chairs the Community Services and Education Subcommittee.

The Attendance Matters Phoenix campaign, themed “Here Today, Ready Tomorrow!”, promotes clear attendance messaging, coordinated community engagement, and accessible resources for families. The initiative includes multilingual outreach materials that will be shared citywide to help families strengthen attendance habits throughout the year.

“Consistent attendance is a cornerstone of academic success. Through this campaign, we’re making sure families have the tools, support, and encouragement they need so every child can show up ready to learn,” said Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington.

As part of the initiative, the City of Phoenix will partner with the Phoenix Children’s Museum to offer up to 300 passes to Head Start families. Families whose children maintain 90 percent or higher attendance will earn entries into monthly drawings, encouraging strong routines and expanding access to enriching learning experiences.

“Children learn best when they are engaged, curious and excited to discover the world around them. That’s what we strive to inspire every day at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix. We’re thrilled to partner with the City of Phoenix on Attendance Matters and provide 300 family memberships that give families opportunities to connect, play and learn together throughout the year. By celebrating families for making school attendance a priority, we’re reinforcing an important message: every day at school, and every opportunity to learn through play, matters,” said President & CEO of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix Kate Wells.

Attendance Matters Phoenix builds on the success of Project SAAM (Supporting Attendance Across Maricopa County), where participating districts saw chronic absenteeism drop between 18 percent and 28 percent from 2023 to 2025. Attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success, and when families, schools, and community partners work together, we can make a meaningful impact.

Media Contact
Adam Waltz
adam.waltz@phoenix.gov