K12 schools have made modest improvements to chronic absenteeism since the height of the pandemic. Yet, it remains a significant challenge that requires immediate action, new research confirms.
In 2022-23, two years after most K12 buildings reopened for in-person learning, the majority of students attended schools with 20% or higher levels of chronic absence, data from Attendance Works suggests. That means that for the average-sized school, there were at least 88 chronically absent students in each elementary school, 113 in each middle school and 139 in each high school.
“Such high numbers of chronically absent students are beyond the capacity of a single social worker or counselor to address,” the research reads. “Research shows how such elevated levels of chronic absence can overwhelm school staff and negatively affect teaching and learning for all students, not just for those who aren’t in school.”
However, chronic absence decreased from its high of 30% in the 2021-22 school year to 28% in 2022-23. And while most states saw reductions, progress was widely uneven.
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The greatest decreases in chronic absenteeism were found in schools with the highest levels of chronic absence. There was no improvement in the percentage of schools with lower chronic absences.
For instance, 43% of schools experienced “extreme” chronic absence in 2021-22 compared to 36% in 2022-23. Comparably, 8% of schools saw “modest” chronic absence, and that number remained the same in 2022-23.
Addressing chronic absenteeism must involve states and districts setting ambitious but achievable goals, according to Attendance Works. Here are some effective strategies the organization recommends districts implement to get started:
- Advance family engagement
- Promote student connectedness
- Ensure health, well-being and safety
- Invest in relevant and engaging learning
- Support access to learning
“Just like efforts to address learning loss and low test scores, the size and scale of the absenteeism challenge merit and require an all-hands-on-deck approach,” the research concludes.
The good news is that we’ve already seen improved student engagement and attendance in states like Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia, Rhode Island and New Mexico. We encourage you to read up on their approach to combatting chronic absenteeism.