Chronic Absenteeism Threatens to Derail K-12 Education
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Loading... - Fleur Braam
- 27 Jan 2025
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The issue of chronic absenteeism in K-12 education has reached alarming levels, with 26 percent of students missing a month of school or more last year. This significant absence has led to dramatic declines in academic performance, accounting for 27 percent of the drop in math scores and 45 percent of the decline in reading scores from 2019 to 2022. Students who are chronically absent are seven times more likely to drop out before graduating, and as state and district leaders scramble for solutions, many students continue to fall further behind.
Before the pandemic, only 13 percent of students in the U.S. were considered chronically absent. These absences were often due to serious personal issues such as long-term illness, gang involvement, clinical depression, or lack of transportation. However, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of chronic absenteeism has doubled to 26 percent.
The cultural shift during the pandemic has significantly altered perceptions of school attendance. For decades, the importance of attending school was ingrained in American society, with strong measures in place to ensure students attended regularly. However, as parents began working from home and children participated in online learning, attending class became less of a priority. Excuses for missing school, such as feeling tired or simply not wanting to go, became more accepted, leading to a normalization of absenteeism.
School staff, overwhelmed by this drastic rise in absenteeism, find it challenging to revert to previous cultural norms regarding attendance. The complexity of each student's situation complicates efforts to address the issue. Factors such as unreliable transportation, disengagement from school, and personal circumstances contribute to absences, but without understanding the specific reasons behind each absence, schools struggle to implement effective solutions.
Currently, nearly 75 percent of student absences are classified as "unexplained," meaning that no authorized parent has communicated with the school regarding their child's absence. This lack of clarity hinders schools' ability to offer personalized solutions and keep students engaged. With an average daily attendance of 85 percent in a high school of 2,000 students, approximately 225 students may be absent each day without explanation. Schools often rely on robocalls and absence letters, which are insufficient for addressing the issue effectively.
Improving attendance requires more than just additional resources; it necessitates a cultural shift that prioritizes presence. Schools and communities must work together to make attendance a shared responsibility. Here are some strategies to address chronic absenteeism:
i. Understand the Reasons for Absences: Schools should take the initiative to identify why students are missing school. Utilizing modern AI-driven attendance systems or traditional methods like phone calls can help uncover the root causes of absenteeism.
ii. Categorize and Recognize Patterns: Identifying specific patterns can lead to impactful changes. For example, one district found that students living just under a mile from school were more likely to miss class due to transportation issues. By adjusting their bussing policy, they saw a significant increase in attendance.
iii. Target Resources to Students in Need: Focus efforts on students facing the most severe challenges. Personalized solutions, such as home visits for unresponsive parents or assistance with transportation, can directly impact attendance rates.
iv. Engage the Community: When communities unite to prioritize school attendance, students receive the support they need to succeed. Engaging parents, local organizations, and community leaders can create a supportive environment that encourages regular attendance.
Tackling chronic absenteeism is a complex challenge, but with focused effort and a culture of engagement, it is possible to reverse this troubling trend. By understanding the reasons behind absences, recognizing patterns, and providing targeted support, schools can help ensure that all students have the foundation they need for future success. As we move forward, it is crucial to foster a renewed commitment to the importance of education and attendance, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
