4 ways states can better address chronic absenteeism

More states are publishing chronic absenteeism data than ever before. Here’s how that reporting can improve so schools can take action even quicker.

Forty-nine states are now publicly releasing their schools’ chronic absenteeism data, compared to just one state in 2010, according to a new report from Attendance Works, a nonprofit that tracks and reports nationwide absenteeism rates

Close to half (22) of the states also offer guidance on prevention-focused approaches to chronic absence. Prevention and early intervention strategies that are tailored to local realities are one way states are improving attendance, the report suggests.

However, Attendance Works argues that more states should make data available by grade level. Doing so would make it easier for K12 leaders to detect when chronic absence is elevated for particular grades, as is often the case for kindergarten, 6th, 9th and 12th grades.

Founder and Executive Director of Attendance Works Hedy Chang said state leadership must give schools the tools necessary to support improved attendance levels.

“State-level actions designed to enhance data comparability, emphasize taking a team approach and encourage a multi-tiered system of support are essential for achieving meaningful reductions in chronic absence,” she said.

Despite noticeable improvements in chronic absenteeism reporting from the states, AttendanceWorks offers four for the coming years:

1. Standardize chronic absenteeism definitions across states to ensure data is useful and comparable, and how absences, attendance and enrollment thresholds are defined.
2. Invest in real-time data and grade-level insights. Only 17 states provide data by individual grades to track transition years when chronic absence soars.
3. Publishing dashboards and timely reports to help families, students, educators, community partners and policymakers understand absenteeism data and turn it into actionable steps to keep the community engaged.
4. States should promote prevention by using a multi-tiered support system and use truancy courts as a last resort, not a default tool.

Read the full report here.

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