Weekly Media Roundup: October 28, 2026

How educators are breaking down attendance barriers, K-12 Dive

Two recent reports find that schools can reduce chronic absenteeism by strengthening family engagement, fostering positive relationships between students and teachers, establishing dedicated attendance teams and providing comprehensive support. A survey of school principals found that the greatest improvements occurred in schools implementing multi-tiered strategies. The 2026 Attendance Playbook report recommends incorporating afterschool and summer programs into a tiered approach. “The nation’s school principals show that reducing chronic absenteeism is a challenging task but it can be done,” Robert Balfanz, director of the Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University, told K-12 Dive. “Doing so requires weaving together and successfully implementing multiple evidence-based strategies aligned to the specific reasons driving absenteeism in each school.”

Tulsa Dream Center Celebrates 25 Years with Birthday Bash and Fall Carnival, News On 6 (Oklahoma)

In honor of its 25th anniversary, the Tulsa Dream Center held a free birthday bash and fall carnival attended by more than 1,500 community members. The Center offers afterschool programs, food and clothing assistance, youth programs and health services to Tulsa, Oklahoma, residents. “Today was a beautiful reminder of what can happen when a community comes together. We are grateful for every family, volunteer, partner, donor, and supporter who has been part of this work. For 25 years, Tulsa Dream Center has had the privilege of serving Tulsa, and we are excited for what is ahead,” Pastor Tim Newton told News On 6.

OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN: GC Lands $75,000 Lilly Grant to Pursue Funds for After-School Program, Greenfield Reporter (Indiana)

Thanks to a $75,000 planning grant from the Eli Lilly Foundation’s Opportunity to Learn project, the Greenfield-Central Community School Corporation in Indiana will work toward creating an afterschool program combining arts, sports and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities. School officials aim to design a program that will reduce chronic absenteeism and support students’ mental health, with social workers on hand to help students and families access resources. “If students know they have this thing to go to after school where there’s activities they enjoy, where we can work on some of those mental health challenges, and where we can get them more connected to school and increase their motivation to come to school and be successful at school, then we feel like we’ll be addressing that chronic absenteeism barrier,” Greenfield-Central Director of Student Services Robin LeClaire told the Greenfield Reporter.

Michigan Allocates $135 Million for After-School, Summer Programs in 2027 Budget, Mid-Michigan NOW (Michigan)

Afterschool and summer programs across Michigan will benefit from $135 million set aside in the state’s 2027 education budget, which advocates say will help more students engage in STEM outside of school hours. The latest America After 3PM report found that 93% of parents of afterschool students in Michigan say their child’s program offers STEM activities. “After school programs are so important because kids still stay engaged with each other and they're able to learn more things after school in an enrichment level,” Mary Heron, a success coach with Thrive On After School in Mount Morris, told Mid-Michigan NOW. “I'm able to introduce different things that aren't necessarily part of the curriculum but would interest kids.”