"The Livingston Union School District improved chronic absenteeism, suspensions and student well-being by investing in school counselors, according to a new study by the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools. The study examines how Livingston Union, a small, five-campus K-8 school district in Merced County, implemented comprehensive school counseling - a system of integrated academic and mental health support for students and families - to outpace California on key metrics of post-pandemic recovery."
"Livingston Union lowered chronic absenteeism from a post-pandemic peak of 18.3% in 2023 to 14.2% in spring 2024, exceeding a goal of reducing chronic absenteeism by 3% by the end of the school year, according to the study. In 2024, California reported a chronic absenteeism rate of about 20% statewide. LUSD also lowered suspension rates from 3.4% to 2.8% between 2022 and 2023."
""We're looking at the data to identify the students initially, and then digging a little deeper to try and find what's the root cause of the challenge they're having," Lopez said. "And then looking at what could be an intervention for that student in a particular situation.""
Livingston Union, a small five-campus K-8 district in Merced County, implemented comprehensive school counseling that integrates academic and mental health support for students and families. Chronic absenteeism fell from 18.3% in 2023 to 14.2% in spring 2024, while California reported about 20% statewide in 2024. Suspension rates dropped from 3.4% to 2.8% between 2022 and 2023, and suspensions for students with disabilities declined by 5.5% between 2011–2012 and 2018–2019. Counselors run regular student information reports, identify students with multiple Fs, attendance issues, or multiple referrals, and provide targeted interventions such as six- to eight-week group programs and tutoring.
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