Key points:
Across the country, teachers and education leaders continue to fight rising rates of student absences. Curbing chronic absenteeism among students is particularly in the post-pandemic era as educators strive to close persistent learning gaps.
Students who are consistently absent miss much more than academics–they also miss key social interactions and supports that are crucial to their social-emotional development.
As chronic absenteeism rates rise, educators and industry leaders are brainstorming ways to ensure students are in school learning and building important social supports.
Here’s the latest:
Communication between schools and parents or caregivers is absolutely critical, and the need to maintain consistent communication doesn’t wane as students become older, notes Dr. Kara Stern, director of Education and Engagement at SchoolStatus. Stern recommends three key communication strategies to lower chronic absenteeism rates: Use multiple communication channels, tailor messaging to student interests, and use Multi-Tiered Systems of Support.
Stern also notes that attendance could be reimagined “as an essential part of the curriculum for both students and parents.” Doing so could “revolutionize how schools, students, and families approach this critical aspect of education.” In fact, making attendance part of the curriculum, teaching it with the same rigor and methodology as math or science, can help students and families understand how consistent attendance impacts academic success and future opportunities. It goes beyond simply “following the rules” and imparts upon students and families that being present in school matters. Students could explore the ripple effects of attendance on their academic journey, social connections, and future career prospects. Parents and guardians could delve into the challenges and solutions surrounding getting their children to school regularly and on time.
The White House Council of Economic Advisors found that chronic absenteeism significantly contributed to drops in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores, accounting for 16 to 27 percent of NAEP score declines in math and 36–45 percent in reading, notes Jeremy Glauser, founder and CEO of eLuma. “Lower test scores only illuminate some of the problems caused by chronic absenteeism. Students who miss school also miss important social interaction with their peers, access to regular meals and special services such as speech therapy or counseling. These students are also more likely to drop out of high school and less likely to pursue postsecondary education, further impacting their future and societal growth as a whole,” Glauser adds. It’s critical for educators to address key elements as they work to reduce chronic absenteeism, such as: why students are skipping school, taking a closer look at data, and ensuring students are equipped to reach their full potential.
A new bipartisan coalition is calling on schools to cut their chronic absenteeism rates in half from the 2021-22 school year, when rates peaked across the country, by the 2026-27 school year. The goal is to reverse the alarming decline in attendance that occurred during the pandemic, when the share of kids who miss a lot of school nearly doubled. As part of the new campaign, the coalition plans to highlight examples of states and school districts that have successfully tackled absenteeism challenges.
According to a new study, school districts implementing proactive, consistent attendance interventions saw a 22 percent improvement in chronic absenteeism rates from 2021-22 to 2022-23, versus only a 7 percent improvement nationally over that same timeframe. These districts implemented proactive, positive attendance management strategies and tools over three consecutive school years (2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-2024). High school students and larger districts show high chronic absenteeism rates–in 2023-24, chronic absenteeism rates were highest among high school students, at 27.74 percent for 9th graders, escalating to 31.84 percent of 12th graders. Chronic absenteeism was lowest in the early elementary grades, with a rate of 26 percent in kindergarten, and dropping to 16.5 percent by 3rd grade.
