Chronic absenteeism remains one of the most persistent challenges facing schools. Although transportation is recognized as one of many barriers to regular attendance, access to district-provided transportation is largely determined by district policy and resources rather than school-level decision making. As a result, transportation remains a challenging lever for schools seeking to improve attendance. As California districts continue to invest in strategies to improve attendance, understanding the role of transportation has important implications for both educational equity and resource allocation.This presentation describes a mixed-methods, geospatial study examining the relationship between district-provided transportation, transportation use, and student attendance and academic outcomes among unduplicated students in San Marcos Unified School District, a mid-sized district in San Diego County. Using a quasi-experimental design that leverages school transportation boundaries, the study compares outcomes for students who receive district transportation, students who are eligible but do not use transportation, and students who are not eligible. The study also incorporates qualitative interviews and geospatial analyses to explore how route safety, neighborhood conditions, and family perceptions influence transportation decisions and school attendance.The presentation will describe the study design, emerging insights, and implications for districts seeking evidence-informed approaches to reducing chronic absenteeism. Attendees will leave with practical considerations for evaluating transportation policies and incorporating transportation access into broader attendance improvement efforts.
