Leaders are turning to dance parties, TikTok trends and monthly competitions to get students back in the classroom as districts continue to experience high levels of chronic absenteeism.
Last school year, nearly 20% of K12 students were chronically absent, according to research from the RAND Corporation. While contributing factors vary by district, the data suggest that a quarter of youths (aged 12 to 21) don’t think being chronically absent is a problem.
Meanwhile, administrators are relying on creative solutions to re-engage students. In west Alabama, Eastwood Middle School cut its absenteeism rate in half by implementing a “house system,” according to WBRC 6 News. Students are divided into groups and earn points for attendance, academics and participation in dodgeball and other monthly competitions.
“We wanted to do something that focused more on the positive behavior and we wanted to be proactive instead of reactive,” Principal Evelyn Peoples told the news outlet.
Students immediately felt more connected to their school, Peoples added.
Texas’ Boyd Elementary is taking a similar approach. The school has increased overall attendance from 94.4% to 96% in one year through engaging activities that foster a culture of belonging and connection, the school’s leaders said in a webinar hosted by the National Association of Elementary School Principals.
Social media is a great way to connect with students, said Principal Jana Clark.
“I have the rule of three. If I [see something on TikTok] three times, I have to do it, or I have to at least attempt to do it,” she said during the presentation.
Inspired by TikTok, students and their teachers have played “the floor is lava,” where kids and teachers will hop on their desks to avoid touching the floor.
“We started playing songs over the announcements and they [students] had to call in,” said Clark. “They had to be caller No. 5 and know the song and the artist.”
Strategies can be as simple as greeting kids at drop-off. Boyd Elementary students have at least three points of contact before they get to the classroom, often with music, according to Assistant Principal Cortnie Bryan.
“Our speakers are always jamming in the morning,” she told attendees. “If you don’t have a little speaker, grab one because we find it quite useful. Those kids will be out there dancing on the porch in the morning.”
Meanwhile, there’s still work to be done on a national scale. Leaders still have to reinforce the importance of regular attendance, engage with families and be transparent about the consequences of unnecessary absences, writes Nat Malkus, senior fellow and deputy director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute.
In a recent op-ed, Malkus outlines solutions for leaders experiencing chronic absenteeism. Read it here.
