When TIP first opened its doors in 1991, the challenges students and families faced were very real, driven by factors like poverty and systemic barriers. But nearly 35 years ago, they were different in scale and intensity. Over the decades, the landscape has evolved. Absenteeism has surged, fueled by worsening inequality, housing insecurity, the COVID crisis, and strained mental health systems. In 2024, Georgia’s chronic absenteeism rate stood at 21.3%, up from 20.1% in 2021 Atlanta Public Schools had a much higher rate of chronic absenteeism—34.5% Nationwide, chronic absenteeism has nearly doubled since 2018, reaching 26% in

The first few weeks of school set the tone for the entire year. That’s why Attendance Awareness Month, observed every September, is so important. Research from Attendance Works shows that half of students who miss just two to four days this month will go on to miss nearly a month of school over the course of the year. Public education is meant to be the great equalizer, but chronic absenteeism continues to deepen inequities, especially for historically disenfranchised families and communities. The crisis has grown so urgent that Georgia policymakers have taken notice. Earlier this year, lawmakers

The new school year is right around the corner. Let’s make sure your child is ready to show up strong! Whether your child attends Atlanta Public Schools (APS) or Fulton County Schools (FCS), we’ve got you covered. These two districts have different calendars, events, and websites, so it’s important to find out which school district you are zoned for. #1: Mark Your Calendar for These Dates! #2: Find Out What School Your Child Should AttendFirst, confirm your school district. APS and Fulton County Schools have different zoning. #3: Make Sure Your Child Is EnrolledNew student? Starting kindergarten?

Here’s how TIP is helping rewrite them. We’re surrounded by numbers—how many families can’t afford housing, how many children go to school hungry. In a world where our neighbors face unthinkable hardships daily, it’s easy to become numb. But chronic absenteeism isn’t just another statistic. It’s often a direct result of these same challenges, and it can quietly limit a child’s future before it’s even begun. More than 370,000 Georgia students missed at least 10% of the 2024 school year, qualifying as chronically absent. Arianna Villegas, Student & Family Support Specialist at TIP, sees the stories behind

Why Every Presence Matters, Now More Than Ever Dear TIP Community, You’ll be hearing a lot more from us in the coming months as we ramp up our marketing, outreach, strategic planning, and community partnerships. Before we jump into all the exciting work ahead, I’d like to formally introduce myself. My name is Tonya Malone Ferguson, and I’m TIP’s executive director. While I may be new to this role, I’m certainly not new to this organization. My journey with the Truancy Intervention Project began in 2000, when the organization was known as “Kids in Need of Dreams.”