In a high school a problem existed in which 43 students in grades 9 through 12 received failing grades for the first semester due to excessive absenteeism. A target group of students with excessive school absences was identified by the school faculty. Intervention counseling sessions were held with these students. Of the 46 students, only 12 were involved in two counseling sessions. The purpose of the sessions was to increase student awareness of individual absences and of the district school board attendance policy. Other purposes of the counseling sessions were to provide the target students and the students' parents (or guardians) with information about an appeal process and the importance of school attendance. This program employed a questionnaire, attendance information, and appeal data in order to measure the success of the counseling sessions. All students belonging to the target group were involved in intervention counseling sessions. All students were made aware of the individual's number of absences and answered correctly all questions on an exit interview questionnaire. At the conclusion of the appeal process, 47 students received failing grades for the second semester. Of this 47, only 19 students belonged to the target group. Of the 19 students, 14 students were successful in presenting appeals and had the mandatory failure waived. It was concluded that intervention counseling helped to decrease student absences at the secondary school level. (ABL)