Govt Overhauls Attendance Services to Tackle Chronic School Absenteeism

The Government is undertaking a significant reform of school attendance services to improve student participation and address chronic absenteeism across New Zealand. Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced sweeping changes to how the Ministry of Education contracts and funds attendance services, aiming to double capacity and deliver better results for students, families, and schools.

“School attendance has steadily improved over the last year, but there are still too many students absent,” Seymour said. “These new contracts fix what matters for kids and families.”

The overhaul follows findings from 2024 reviews by the Ministry of Education and the Education Review Office (ERO), which concluded that the previous attendance system was inefficient, fragmented, and lacked accountability.

$140 Million Investment to Rebuild Attendance System

As part of Budget 2025, the Government has committed $140 million over four years to lift school attendance, with $123 million specifically allocated to frontline services. This represents one of the largest single investments in attendance improvement in recent decades.

Under the reform, all previous attendance service contracts have been terminated and replaced with a streamlined model. The Ministry has now awarded 83 new contracts to Attendance Service Providers (ASPs) nationwide, who will deliver targeted, evidence-based interventions to students with poor or non-existent attendance.

In addition, 170 schools with persistently high numbers of chronically absent students will now receive direct contracts to provide in-school attendance support tailored to their communities.

Addressing System Failures and Prioritising Accountability

Seymour said the previous system distributed funding “scattershot” across providers, often without measuring effectiveness. The new contracting model focuses on performance-based outcomes, clear accountability, and measurable progress at the individual student level.

“We’ve re-organised the provision of attendance services, awarding new contracts and increasing support for those delivering excellent results,” Seymour said. “By next year, frontline attendance services will be better resourced, more accountable, and more data driven.”

The Minister added that a key part of the reform is the development of a new national case management system, designed to improve data collection, analysis, and monitoring of student attendance.

“I was impressed by the systems some services had developed by themselves,” he said. “We want to spread that excellence across the entire country.”

New Model Doubles Reach and Strengthens Support

Under the new model, attendance services will be equipped to:

• Reach twice as many chronically absent and non-enrolled students nationwide.

• Identify root causes of non-attendance through deeper engagement with students and families.

• Collaborate closely with schools, whānau, and agencies to create tailored re-engagement plans.

• Use up to 3% of contract funding to address unmet basic needs affecting attendance, such as uniforms, transport, stationery, and digital devices.

• Escalate chronic non-attendance cases when parents or caregivers refuse to engage constructively.

These changes mark a shift towards a holistic and proactive approach — one that recognises the social, economic, and emotional factors behind school absenteeism.

Mandatory Attendance Plans from 2026

Looking ahead, Seymour announced that from Term 1, 2026, all schools and kura will be required to have an attendance management plan aligned with the Government’s new Stepped Attendance Response (STAR) framework.

The STAR framework provides a structured pathway for schools to identify and respond to attendance issues early, with escalating levels of support and intervention.

“Attendance plans will ensure every school has a clear, consistent approach to managing attendance — from the first sign of disengagement to chronic absence,” Seymour said.

Long-Term Target: 80% of Students Attending Regularly by 2030

The Government has set a clear national target: by 2030, at least 80% of students should attend school more than 90% of the time.

Seymour said that achieving this goal will not only lift educational outcomes but also improve long-term wellbeing and economic opportunity for young New Zealanders.

“School attendance is the first step to better learning, better health, higher incomes and stronger communities,” he said. “Every student deserves that chance — and we’re fixing what matters to make it happen.”

A Data-Driven, Child-Centred Approach

The reformed attendance model is designed to be data-informed, flexible, and responsive to regional needs. The Ministry of Education will monitor progress closely through performance reporting and independent evaluation.

By investing in technology, empowering local schools, and fostering collaboration among agencies, the Government aims to build a sustainable, nationwide system that supports children before they disengage from education altogether.

Education experts have praised the focus on early intervention and family engagement, noting that long-term success will depend on consistent support for schools and communities.

Building a Culture of Belonging and Learning

As New Zealand continues to rebuild post-pandemic, improving attendance is seen as essential to restoring stability and aspiration in classrooms nationwide.

With new contracts, stronger data tools, and clearer accountability, the Government hopes to reverse years of attendance decline and ensure that every child feels valued, supported, and motivated to learn.

“By the start of next year,” Seymour concluded, “attendance services will be more connected, better resourced, and focused on what truly matters — getting every child back in school, where they belong.”