Nearly 8 million students in the country are chronically absent, missing three weeks or more of school each year. Attendance Works, a leading national organization focused on chronic absenteeism, will talk about what contributes to chronic absenteeism and provide a framework for how school principals can address this important educational issue. No Kid Hungry will discuss how serving school breakfast after the bell can not only provide needed nutrition, but actually reduce chronic absenteeism. Craig Crawford, President of the Montana Association of Elementary and Middle School Principals, will share his perspective on the role of principals in facilitating school attendance by addressing students’ basic needs like nutrition.