Abstract
Attendance is a critical predictor of academic success and democratic participation. Chronic absenteeism not only impacts individual learning outcomes but also threatens shared civic spaces where young people engage with democratic life. This paper explores the innovative role of professional sports partnerships in addressing this educational challenge. Anchored in the work of the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network (SITG!)—a partnership between the Columbus Crew, Cleveland Browns, FC Cincinnati, and the Ohio Department of Education—this paper investigates how professional sports can catalyze cultural shifts, transforming attendance from an individual obligation into a collective community value. Through qualitative and quantitative analysis of program data, media coverage, and community engagement initiatives, the study highlights how SITG! mobilizes sports as a civic actor, building trust, belonging, and motivation among students. Since the Crew joined SITG! in 2022, the network has expanded to 31 districts in its region, representing 148,000 students, and contributed to a 7% decrease in chronic absenteeism across partner districts, doubling the state average decrease. Engagement strategies include attendance rooms, incentive programs, family outreach, and direct player involvement, demonstrating how non-traditional partners can address structural attendance barriers such as poverty, transportation, and disengagement by leveraging their resources and influence. This case illustrates how professional sports can function as transformative civic partners in education, reframing attendance as a democratic commitment, strengthening school-community ties, and demonstrating how sport can keep pace with society’s evolving challenges.
Presenters
Alexia RamosCommunity Relations Coordinator, Community Relations, Columbus Crew, Ohio, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Sport–Community Partnerships, School Attendance, Civic Engagement, Educational Equity, Collective Impact
