SPS wins award for attendance initiative

Springfield Public Schools (SPS) received the District Administration Districts of Distinction award highlighting our proven success in Student Engagement & Well-Being through the Attend Today, Succeed Forever initiative focused on increasing student attendance. 

“Regular attendance at school is the single most critical factor for student success,” said Superintendent Grenita Lathan. “If students are not in class, they miss out on essential instruction and social and emotional benefits of daily interaction with their peers and teachers. Chronic absenteeism places our most under-resourced and underrepresented students at even greater risk of falling behind.”

Following the coronavirus pandemic, SPS documented a sharp decline in student attendance. In response, Dr. Lathan implemented the Attend Today, Succeed Forever initiative in 2023 with a multi-pronged strategy designed to create both community-wide awareness and focused action. According to the 2024-2025 Annual Performance Report from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), SPS student attendance increased for the third consecutive year with students achieving an annual attendance rate of 92.12 percent in 2025, up from 90.86 percent in 2022. 

Dr. Lathan accepted the award at the District Administration Leadership Institute Superintendents Summit on Thursday, Dec. 18. 

“Our award winners embody a new model of leadership—one that unites vision, trust and community engagement to build resilient, future-focused school systems,” said Amy Dujon, District Administration’s vice president of education community.