Cleveland Mediation Center’s School Attendance Project is comprised of three different programs addressing the needs of students and families in Greater Cleveland:

• School Based Program in Cleveland Municipal School District
• Truancy Prevention through Mediation in the Cleveland Heights/University Heights School District
• Community Based Program    

School Based program in Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Truancy Mediation Advocates receive referrals of students with 15 or more absences or tardies from area schools.  The advocates schedule intake meetings with the families to help the families determine barriers to success in school and to make referrals to area agencies to address these as needed.

The advocates also encourage the families to attend a mediation with representatives from the school to determine a plan to improve attendance and address any issues they may have. 

After the mediation, the advocate follows-up with the family and the school to see if the issues have been resolved and whether attendance has improved. 

The program during the 2006-2007 school had a positive impact on students with attendance issues as reported by an independent evaluation completed by Kent State University.  The evaluation said the following.

“For those positively contacted by Cleveland Mediation Center, excused absences, unexcused absences, and tardies all significantly decreased from pre-intervention to post-intervention.  While CMC employs different strategies in the CMSD, results indicate that the interventions used in the CMSD are effective in improving both absences and tardies.”     

Community Based Program

Social Service agencies serving families on the west side of Cleveland refer students who are having school related issues or conflicts.  Referrals can include attendance related concerns, issues with bullying, or conflicts with other students or teachers among other areas.

A mediation advocate meets with the family to talk about their concerns, identify changes needed for the child to have a successful school experience, and to help the family decide the best intervention for the conflict.  Possibilities include mediation, meetings, or service referrals.  After the intervention, the advocate follows-up with the family to see if the conflict has been resolved.  

Truancy Prevention through Mediation in the Cleveland Heights/University Heights Schools

As part of the county wide Truancy Prevention through Mediation program, Cleveland Mediation Center provides mediations to the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District.  Families referred to the program have elementary aged students where there are attendance concerns.  Cleveland Mediation Center mediators help facilitate the conversation between the families members and school representatives to create a plan to improve the child’s success in school. 

For more information about the school attendance project contact Danielle Cosgrove at:

(216) 621-1919, ext. 105 or via email.