New Mexico schools now use AI to track student absenteeism

New Mexico school districts are implementing AI-powered attendance tracking software to address chronic absenteeism, with four districts piloting the technology to automate parent notifications and improve student attendance rates.

Current implementation status: The AI platform, developed by San Francisco-based Edia, is being tested in Farmington, Raton, Carlsbad, and Hobbs school districts.

• Farmington Municipal Schools launched the program in November across three high schools, covering approximately 3,400 students
• Initial results show improved attendance rates and increased parent response rates
• The system replaces traditional attendance tracking methods and robocalls with an AI chatbot that communicates directly with parents

How the technology works: Edia’s platform integrates with existing student information systems to streamline the attendance monitoring process.

• When teachers mark students absent, the AI automatically sends text messages to parents requesting explanations
• Parents can respond to texts and submit documentation like doctor’s notes directly through the system
• The platform achieves a 60% parent response rate, significantly higher than traditional communication methods

Context and challenges: New Mexico faces particularly severe attendance issues in the post-pandemic era.

• The state experienced a 119% increase in chronically absent students between 2019 and 2023, the highest in the nation
• While statewide chronic absenteeism dropped from 39.22% to 29.77% in 2023-24, rates remain almost double pre-pandemic levels
• Implementation challenges include outdated student information and the need to secure parent buy-in

Early results and benefits: The pilot program is showing promising outcomes beyond just attendance tracking.

• Pilot schools report a 2% increase in attendance, double the improvement seen in non-pilot schools
• Attendance staff can focus on providing support rather than administrative tasks
• The system helps identify potential child abuse cases by better tracking absence patterns and reasons
• Schools can better understand and address underlying causes of absences, including academic, behavioral, and social-emotional factors

Expanding adoption: Other districts are showing interest in implementing the AI attendance system.

• Santa Fe Public Schools is considering adding the technology to existing attendance procedures
• The state Public Education Department has recognized Farmington’s participation in the program
• School officials emphasize the technology serves as a tool rather than a complete solution

Looking ahead: While early results are promising, the true impact of AI-powered attendance tracking will become clearer after a full semester of implementation, with success largely dependent on sustained parent engagement and the ability to act on the collected data to support student needs.