Woodlake Unified School District — We Are One: Family, School, CommunityAttendance Intervention NavigatorWoodlake Unified School District
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Level 1 — Early Concern

Student & Family Check-In Protocol

A simple structure outreach team members use when checking in with students and families. Adapt it so it sounds like you. (RAISE Practice 4D · Data-Informed Supportive Outreach)

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Check-in details

Checked in with

Pre-check-in: prepare yourself for listening

2 minutes — pause before you sit down

Step 1: Welcome and put at ease

2–3 minutes — make the student or family feel safe; clarify they are not in trouble

Sample openers

  • “I wanted to check in because I've noticed you've missed some school lately — and I'm not here to lecture you about that. I just want to understand what's been going on for you.”
  • “I'm really glad we have a few minutes together. I've noticed that you've been absent and I've been wanting to check in with you.”

Step 2: Ask curious questions to surface barriers

3–4 minutes — start broad, follow their lead, don't lead toward what you assume

Broad opening questions

  • “Tell me about a typical morning for you. What does it usually look like?”
  • “Is there anything that's been making things harder recently?”

Deepening moves

  • “Say more about that.”
  • “What's that been like for you?”
  • “When you say [x], what do you mean by that?”

Barrier-surfacing questions

  • “What makes it hard to get to school some days?”
  • “What would need to be different for mornings to feel easier?”
  • “What about school feels difficult or uncomfortable right now?”

Step 3: Close with care and clear next steps

2 minutes — follow-through builds trust

  • Reflect back: “What I'm hearing is that mornings are really hard right now because [x]. Did I get that right?”
  • Name what you'll do: “I'm going to think about what you told me and see if there's something we can do to help with [x].”
  • Leave the door open: “I want to keep checking in with you. Is it okay if we talk again next week?”

Post-check-in documentation

Bring back to your outreach team — this is how the team spots patterns across students