Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Visits Families to Promote Attendance with iAttend
LOS ANGELES (August 5, 2026) – With the new school year starting August 12—one week away—Los Angeles Unified held its first iAttend student outreach event of the 2026–27 school year. Superintendent Andrés E. Chait, school principals, teachers, pupil services and attendance (PSA) counselors visited students and families in the District’s Region North area to welcome them back ahead of the start of the new school year.
Superintendent Chait and Los Angeles Unified staff joined principals, teachers, and PSA counselors from Pacoima Middle School, Haddon Avenue Elementary School, and Arleta Senior High School at Pacoima Middle School where they boarded a school bus to travel to a series of six homes across the Pacoima and Arleta communities.
The visits are intended to reassure families that Los Angeles Unified schools remain safe, welcoming spaces, ready to support every student as the new school year begins. Since July 27, school teams across the Los Angeles Unified have been contacting families by phone and in person to reinforce that schools are ready to welcome students, remind families that the school year begins August 12, and connect them with available resources and support.
"Every student deserves to walk into their schoolhouse on the first day feeling welcomed, supported and ready to learn," said Superintendent Andrés E. Chait. "That's why we're reaching out to families before the school year begins. Whether it's answering questions, connecting them with resources or simply making sure they know we're here to help, iAttend is about giving every student the best possible start."
The outreach comes as the District continues to see encouraging progress on attendance. Districtwide chronic absenteeism decreased from 29.5% in the 2024–25 school year to 27.7% in 2025–26, while Average Daily Attendance (ADA) increased from 92.2% to 92.6% over the same period. The District's goal for the 2026–27 school year is to reach 95% ADA while continuing to reduce chronic absenteeism.
Los Angeles Unified continues to work with families to remove barriers to attendance through personalized outreach, support from PSA counselors, availability of school-based mental health and wellness services, transportation assistance, child welfare services, basic needs resources, enrollment assistance, and individualized attendance interventions.
Families are encouraged to establish consistent bedtime and morning routines, arrive at school on time each day, schedule appointments outside of school hours when possible, and stay connected with their child's school. Families needing additional support are encouraged to reach out to their school directly.
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