Abstract: A computer-based system for tracking and reporting attendance of individuals at continuing education activities and the like. One or more suitable identification devices, such as card readers, are placed at the site of the educational activity. An identification card is distributed to the each of the prospective attendees prior to occurrence of the educational activity. Upon entering the site of the educational activity, data from the identification card of each attendee is electronically recognized by the card reader. For example, a magnetically encoded card may be swiped through the card reader in a manner similar to that by which credit cards are validated. After all of the attendees have been identified in this manner, data stored in the card reader is transferred to a central computer. The data is then used to update various database files stored in the central computer. The information can then be analyzed, sorted or otherwise manipulated to generate selected attendance reports and the like.