This Pre-Conference Academy will be held in the Madera room, Renaissance.

Tuesday, April 27, 2027

1:00PM-5:00PM
$75 per person (includes all workshop materials)

Presenters: Patrick A. Freeland, Director of Statewide Quality Improvement Systems, Forum for Youth Investment, Washington, DC; Joe Bertoletti, Senior Consultant, The Learning Agenda, Ypsilanti, MI

Chronic absenteeism is often viewed as a school-based issue, yet it frequently reflects broader challenges related to youth engagement, belonging, well-being, family circumstances, access to opportunities, and system coordination. Facilitated jointly by The Forum for Youth Investment and The Learning Agenda, this interactive half-day workshop explores chronic absenteeism through a youth development and systems-change lens. Through research, peer learning, systems mapping, guided reflection, and action planning, participants will examine root causes, identify opportunities for stronger cross-sector collaboration, and explore how afterschool programs, expanded learning opportunities, and community partners can help create the conditions that support youth engagement, attendance, and success.
M, H, ULA, MLA, CB

Learning Outcomes:

• Participants will analyze the interconnected factors that contribute to chronic absenteeism, including engagement, belonging, well-being, family circumstances, and access to opportunities.
• Participants will apply a youth development and systems-change framework to identify how expanded learning programs and cross-sector partners can collectively support youth engagement, attendance, and success.
• Participants will develop an initial action plan to strengthen engagement, attendance, and youth success by leveraging existing assets, partnerships, and opportunities within their local context. 

www.forumfyi.org                       
www.thelearningagenda.com

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Presenters

Patrick A. Freeland, MS (he/him/his)

Patrick A. Freeland serves as Director of Statewide Quality Improvement Systems at the Forum for Youth Investment, where he partners with state education agencies, funders, and community leaders to strengthen systems that support youth success. With more than 20 years of experience in youth development and systems change, Patrick serves as a strategic coach and thought partner to leaders, helping align policy, funding, and practice around shared outcomes for young people. He also serves as an international accreditation peer reviewer for Social Current and holds multiple leadership roles on nonprofit and advisory boards.

Joe Bertoletti (he/him/his)

Joe Bertoletti is a national leader in youth development, expanded learning, and workforce development. He leads the National Afterschool Association's National Credentialing Project, strengthening the youth-serving workforce nationwide. Joe also leads chronic absenteeism research and improvement efforts for Michigan's 21st Century Community Learning Centers in partnership with the Forum for Youth Investment. His expertise includes quality improvement, strategic planning, professional learning, systems-building, and helping organizations translate research into practices that improve outcomes for young people.