MT GEAR UP Adressing Absenteeism

The Montana GEAR UP program is seeking information from organizations with expertise in addressing student absenteeism and improving school attendance rates among middle and high school students. The program serves 12 school districts across the state, with a focus on rural areas, high rates of first-generation college students, and high rates of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. The project aims to develop and implement strategies for reducing absenteeism, including needs assessment, development of strategies and best practices, professional development, community engagement, and implementation support. Interested vendors are invited to submit information describing their services and approach to addressing these project components. Key considerations include: • Experience providing similar services • Ability to conduct needs assessments and develop strategies for reducing absenteeism • Capacity to provide professional development and community engagement • Understanding of the challenges and opportunities in working with rural, low-income communities • Ability to provide implementation support and consulting throughout the project