PEAK Research
Pathways to Elevate Attendance and Knowledge Research Project
The PEAK Research Project is a three-year statewide study focused on improving student attendance in Montana’s CSI (Comprehensive Support & Improvement) schools. Led by the UM’s PJW College of Education and Montana Safe Schools Center in collaboration with the Office of Public Instruction (OPI), PEAK works directly with schools, students and caregivers to uncover local successes, deepen understanding, and implement meaningful, community-chosen strategies to promote stronger student engagement.
Click on Comprehensive Support & Improvement to be directed to Montana OPI’s website to learn more information on this designation.
PROJECT GOALS
- Identify school-based practices that successfully promote regular attendance and student connection.
- Explore how factors such as school climate, belonging, health and safety, and academic engagement contribute to regular attendance across both elementary and high school settings.
- Support schools in designing and testing targeted strategies rooted in their own data and community insights.
OUR APPROACH
This project follows a strengths-based, action research model:
- Two Cohorts of participating schools engage in a two-year process.
- First year consists of 10 school locations in rural Montana communities.
- Second year will consist of 5 rural school locations.
- Year 1: Discovery
- Schools analyze their own data to identify what’s working and what matters most. Data sources include:
- Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
- Attendance records
- School climate surveys
- Existing attendance interventions
- Focus groups with students and caregivers
- Surveys of staff and families
- School structural characteristics
- Schools analyze their own data to identify what’s working and what matters most. Data sources include:
- Year 2: Local Action and Evaluation
- Each school chooses and implements an intervention strategy based on their Year 1 findings. These strategies aim to enhance relationships, connection, well-being and academic engagement.
- The research team measures the effectiveness of the chosen strategies, looking for growth in attendance and engagement, and capturing lessons that can be shared across Montana and beyond.
KEY RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND METHODS
What factors contribute to positive school attendance?
How effective are various interventions, such as truancy officers, wrap-around facilitators, and home coordinators, in improving school attendance?
How do school climate, a sense of belonging, and social support systems impact attendance rates, and how do these factors compare between high school and elementary school levels?
How do factors like physical and emotional health and safety, well-being and emotional competence, academic challenge and engagement, and a culture of belonging and support influence regular school attendance?
- Quantitative and qualitative data
- Parent/Caregiver, staff and student surveys
- Community engagement through focus groups
RESEARCH TEAM
- Machelle Cheyney, Project Manager
- Nancy Berg, Director of Montana Safe Schools Center
- Tammy Tolleson Knee
- Mike Perry, Associate Dean for the Phyllis J. Washington College of Education
- Miriam Resendez, President of JEM & R, LLC
- School Research Coordinators identified at each school
- Community Liaisons for each tribal community
COME SEE US IN YOUR COMMUNITY!
Alberton open house on Tuesday, August 19th, 2025.
Victor open house on Tuesday, August 26th, 2025.
PEAK Research Project is a collaboration between Montana Office of Public Instruction, Phyllis J. Washington College of Education at the University of Montana and Montana Safe Schools Center.
Montana Safe Schools Center 