Rethinking Accountability, Attendance, and Funding in Uncertain Times 

April 1, 2026

What if the way we measure student success is actually getting in the way of it? Schools today are caught in a paradox. The systems meant to help students thrive, such as accountability frameworks, attendance policies, and funding structures, often create more paperwork than progress. Fixing that means going beyond the data and rethinking how research, policy, and practice actually connect. 

In this spotlight, explore how to sharpen accountability systems to better inform improvement efforts, reduce chronic absenteeism through whole-child support systems, and create stable funding environments that help schools weather financial storms. 

Improve Attendance and Reduce Chronic Absenteeism 

When students miss school, they miss opportunities to learn and grow. The effects of chronic absenteeism extend well beyond individual students, impacting climate, enrollment, teacher satisfaction, and the fiscal health of education systems. 

In Turning Research Into Action: Improving Attendance, Reducing Chronic Absenteeism, Dana Grayson, Lenay Dunn, and Rebeca Cerna present four research-based strategies for combating chronic absenteeism: 

• using data to illuminate patterns and drive continuous improvement  
• connecting chronic absenteeism to enrollment and fiscal health  
• strengthening whole-child supports and school climate  
• advancing cross-sector collaboration and coherent systems 

This resource provides actionable guidance, along with links to supporting materials that help address chronic absenteeism in local environments. 

Read Turning Research Into Action: Improving Attendance, Reducing Chronic Absenteeism. 

From Accountability to Improvement

For over 20 years, federal accountability policy has aimed to identify schools needing support and direct resources for improvement, yet many systems will simply label schools rather than driving meaningful change. In a recent blog post, WestEd experts Mel Wylen and Mitch Herz explore ways to sharpen how data are gathered and used so leaders can make informed decisions that strengthen teaching and learning.

Drawing on examples from states including Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, and Utah, Wylen and Herz introduce a four-level hierarchy framework to help states design fair and actionable accountability systems.

Their framework emphasizes

• anchoring systems in a shared vision for student success;
• designing accountability intentionally to serve that vision;
• communicating information in ways that engage all interest holders; and
• connecting identification to coordinated, sustained improvement.

Read Refining Accountability Systems to Better Inform Improvement Efforts. 

Creating a Stable Funding Environment 

Thoughtful policy choices can steady school funding and help districts protect essential services when revenues dip. In How Well Will Your State’s Schools Weather the Next Financial Storm? Ruthie Caparas, Hannah Jarmolowski, Kelsey Krausen, and Patrick McClellan examine the conditions that contribute to current revenue volatility and explore policies that states should consider to help them weather economic uncertainty and declining enrollment. 

While states are often impacted by cost pressures beyond their control, certain state policies can help stabilize school funding from year to year, allowing school districts to maintain stable services during times of declining revenue. 

Read How Well Will Your State’s Schools Weather the Next Financial Storm? 

Supporting Stronger Accountability, Attendance, and Funding Systems 

WestEd partners with states and districts to design solutions that are grounded in research, responsive to local contexts, and built for real-world implementation that helps education leaders turn data into action and vision into lasting results. 

Ready to partner with WestEd? Learn more about how our Education Finance and Systems Planning, Education Leadership and Systems Design, and School and District Transformation work can drive continuous improvement across your education system.