This paper is a project report of a policy analysis of state attendance information available to public schools. Current state attendance information rarely expands beyond compulsory attendance law. It is vague, non-existent or difficult to find. Research provides strong links between student attendance and achievement. Informed school leaders understand the importance of consistent student attendance but need research-based resources. The purpose of this project was to provide recommendations to state policy makers, department of education officials and educational leaders regarding what states should include in their state attendance policies. The project team conducted a review of literature regarding best practices in student attendance. Four standards and 19 indicators for analyzing state attendance policy emerged from the literature and were strengthened with the feedback from an expert panel. The team analyzed the attendance policies of 15 states and reported an overall analysis of its findings by state and by indicator. The project revealed there were discrepancies among the team-selected states in what they determined to be necessary information regarding attendance policies. Most states are not implementing research-based best practices to battle high absenteeism rates. The project also revealed that most states continue to use only average daily attendance as a measure of student attendance which often masks chronic absenteeism. None of the team-selected states met the 19 indicators, including those states considered to be "premier" states in their movement toward improving attendance. The project team made six recommendations to improve student attendance. State education officials must make student attendance a priority and communicate its importance to district leaders. State education officials need to provide a handbook including research-based best practices to improve and maintain acceptable student attendance. State education officials need to make attendance information (especially regarding chronic absenteeism) easily accessible to the general public. State leaders need to work with Attendance Works, a think tank for best practices, to battle chronic absenteeism. State leaders should require chronic absenteeism data be reported, reviewed and utilized in school improvement plans. Education officials should provide funding for individuals at the state and local level to focus solely on student attendance and chronic absenteeism. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]