An Introduction to the NCRERN Replication Network

This brief introduces the NCRERN Replication Network, a national initiative designed to test whether attendance interventions proven effective in rural New York and Ohio districts can successfully scale across diverse rural contexts nationwide. After initial pilots demonstrated that personalized messaging reduced absenteeism by 2.4% in participating districts, NCRERN expanded the program to 47 rural districts across 16 states, serving more than 40,000 students. The replication network provides participating districts with the personalized messaging system—at no cost—along with training, implementation support, and evaluation. The intervention sends caregivers tailored monthly messages summarizing their child’s absences, emphasizing the importance of attendance, setting realistic goals, and inviting connection with school staff. Grounded in research showing that informing families about attendance patterns improves student outcomes, the replication effort aims to rigorously assess whether this low-cost, scalable strategy consistently reduces absenteeism across varied rural settings.