Overview
Edia's AI Attendance Agent works behind the scenes to detect absences, text families, understand their replies, and escalate conversations that need human attention. This guide explains the full flow — from the moment an unexplained absence appears in your SIS to the moment the conversation resolves or lands in your Needs Review queue.
Need-to-Know
This article covers how Edia's AI monitors attendance, communicates with families, categorizes responses, and decides when to loop in staff. Use this guide for:
Understanding the end-to-end automation flow
Explaining the process to staff, leadership, or families
Troubleshooting when you expect a message to send (or not send)
Knowing when and why the AI escalates a conversation
Prerequisites
Active Edia Attendance account
SIS integration connected (PowerSchool, Aeries, eSchoolData, Genesis, SchoolTool, OneRoster, ClassLink, Clever, or Synergy)
Attendance codes configured in Settings
Step-by-Step: What Happens When an Absence Is Detected
1. Edia detects an unexplained absence
Attendance records flow in from your SIS automatically.
Real-time SIS platforms (PowerSchool, Aeries, eSchoolData, Genesis, SchoolTool): data syncs throughout the day
SFTP-based platforms (OneRoster, ClassLink, Clever, Synergy): data arrives via nightly file upload
2. A waiting period begins
For real-time schools, Edia waits 60 minutes (configurable) before texting, giving staff time to update codes. SFTP schools skip this delay since the data is already delayed. Notifications are staggered over a 5-minute window to avoid a burst of messages hitting families all at once.
3. Edia re-checks the absence
Before sending, Edia confirms the absence is still unexplained. If staff already updated the code during the waiting period, no message goes out.
4. The AI texts the family
The primary contact receives a text from your district's dedicated attendance number.
5. The parent replies
Parents can text back the reason, send photos (like doctor's notes), or ask questions. After a 30-second wait, the AI reads the response and continues the conversation.
6. The AI categorizes the reason
Responses are classified into one of seven categories:
Health/Medical
Family Obligations
Transportation
Mental Health
Vacation/Travel
Discipline/Suspension
Other
7. Attendance codes update automatically
Based on the parent's explanation, the AI applies the appropriate attendance code to the correct period(s) — but only using codes your school has enabled for AI use.
8. The conversation closes or escalates
If the reason is straightforward, the AI resolves it. If the situation needs human attention, the conversation is flagged for staff review.
When the AI Escalates to Staff
Edia flags conversations for staff when:
Danger or risky behavior is reported
Extended absences (2+ weeks) occur
Mental health concerns or bullying are mentioned
Ongoing problems affecting attendance are detected
General inquiries arise that the AI can't handle
A parent disputes the absence record
If a flagged conversation involves danger, depression, or bullying, responsible staff members receive an automatic alert — not just a flag in the Needs Review queue.
Good to Know
Quiet hours: Messages only go out between 8:00 AM and 7:59 PM in your district's timezone
Daily limit: Maximum of 2 unanswered message groups per day, per contact
Translation: If a parent replies in a non-English language, the AI automatically translates all future messages
Siblings: If one parent has multiple children at your school, Edia groups all absence info into a single thread
Only the primary contact is notified per student