Truancy Intervention Project (TIP) kicked off 2026 on an optimistic note after a busy 2025 that brought meaningful policy progress under SB 123, encouraging improvements in attendance rates, and new partnerships and leadership. One of the biggest milestones was finalizing our strategic plan for TIP’s future.
Last year, we shared a preview of TIP’s new strategic direction: deepening our support for students and families, expanding early intervention and incentive programs, and strengthening the partnerships that make this work possible. Now, in our 35th anniversary year, we are focused on the critical next step: building the internal capacity needed to deliver on that vision.
As Abraham Lincoln famously said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” In 2026, TIP is sharpening the axe by investing in the people and systems that will allow us to expand our reach and strengthen our impact.
Here’s an update on how that work is already underway.
Building Staff Capacity
Rising absenteeism, new expectations under SB 123, and our planned expansion into middle schools mean we must grow thoughtfully to keep delivering the high-touch, relationship-driven services that define our work.
Over the next year, we are investing in people. That means:
- Expanding our case management team
- Strengthening the operational support needed to serve more students without sacrificing quality or burning out staff
- Professional development to ensure our team has the training and skills to implement best practices in case management, family engagement, and cross-system collaboration
We recently welcomed Christal M. Cherry as TIP’s new Chief Development Officer. With more than 25 years of experience helping mission-driven organizations translate vision into sustainable resources, Christal will help ensure TIP has the support needed to grow and expand our reach.
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Building Smarter Systems to Measure What Matters
As TIP grows, we need better systems to understand and communicate the full scope of our impact. By formalizing processes for collecting and using data, we can ensure we continue to meet the needs of today’s students and families.
Over the next year, we will implement a new CRM and evaluation framework that will strengthen how we manage client information, document our work, and track outcomes related to attendance, engagement, and family stability. New dashboards will give our team clearer insight into what’s working and where we can improve.
By building a deeper, data-informed understanding of what works and for whom, we can help scale effective strategies beyond TIP and contribute to broader, statewide efforts to reduce absenteeism. Our goal is not only to tell better stories about impact, but to build the evidence needed to drive lasting, systemic change.
This year is about building the foundation for TIP’s next chapter: one that is stronger, more scalable, and more measurable, while staying true to our mission of empowering students to thrive by removing barriers to learning.
You can help us build on this momentum. Please consider supporting our work!