Associate Education Minister David Seymour has announced a new package of measures to improve school attendance, setting out expectations for school boards and parents, and strengthening the Ministry of Education’s ability to gather attendance data.

These measures include the introduction of the Stepped Attendance Response (STAR) system to encourage regular student attendance. The STAR system is under development.

Stepped Attendance Response (STAR)

The Ministry will work with schools on developing and implementing Attendance Management Plans (AMPs) based on the STAR system and tailored to meet the needs of each school community. It is anticipated that the Attendance Management Plans (AMPs) will be mandatory for all state and state-integrated schools from Term 1, 2026 and that AMPs will have regard to the STAR.