Ware County High School senior Carlie White was recently invited to participate in the Georgia Attendance Project, a statewide discussion hosted by the Georgia Department of Education and the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
White was one of only 12 students from across Georgia chosen to share perspectives on the growing challenge of chronic absenteeism.
The panel focused on understanding why students believe absenteeism has increased and what strategies could strengthen engagement and improve attendance in schools.
WCHS Principal Dr. Tyrone Kellogg emphasized the importance of listening to student perspectives.
“Student insights are critical in understanding the challenges and designing approaches to address the important issue of attendance,” Dr. Kellogg said.
As a member of the Georgia Department of Education’s Attendance Advisory Council, Donna Solomon, Student Services Coordinator, played a key role in White’s selection.
“Student voice is valuable because it highlights the root causes that affect whether students arrive ready to learn.” Solomon said. “We’re so excited Carlie was able to offer her voice to this challenging topic.”
Ware County Schools Superintendent Dr. Lynn Barber affirmed the district’s commitment to consistent attendance.
“Recognizing the factors that shape students’ engagement and connection to school is key to reducing chronic absenteeism,” Dr. Barber said. “Daily attendance is strongly linked to higher academic achievement, improved social development, and long-term success.
“We’re proud of Carlie’s participation and the way she represented Ware County High School and South Georgia in this focus group.”
