Chronic absenteeism spiked at 10 million students in 2020-21—that means more than one in every five students in the nation missed at least 10% of that pandemic-disrupted school year, according to the most current federal data.
Among the states experiencing the steepest increases in chronic absenteeism are:
- Ohio: Rates soared from 20% in the 2018-19 school year to 39% in 2021-22
- California: Jumped from 13% to 30%
- Connecticut: Increased from 12% to 25%
And as administrators know, chronic absenteeism can torpedo a student’s academic prospects and sink their chances of graduating from high school. “The strikingly high rates of student absenteeism post-pandemic are undermining educators’ efforts to help students recover from the pandemic and diluting the massive, $189 billion federal investment in that work,” warn the authors of the newly updated “Attendance Playbook” from the nonprofit Attendance Works and the FutureEd think tank.
This spring’s updates to the playbook (which was first published in 2019) offer a range of strategies that superintendents and their teams can use to further reduce chronic absenteeism. The recommended solutions cover family engagement, attendance and students’ social-emotional well-being.
More from DA: Superintendent steps down from a big district as turnover keeps churning
“The strategies eschew punitive approaches to reducing truancy, which research have found to be largely unsuccessful, and instead promote conditions that strengthen the educational experiences of all students: rigorous instruction that is relevant to students’ lives; a safe, welcoming school climate; and stronger bonds between students and teachers,” the authors of the report wrote.
3 levels of addressing absenteeism
The playbook’s strategies and solutions are arranged in three tiers. School-wide prevention aims to reduce absenteeism among all students, targeted support removes barriers for students at heightened risk of chronic absenteeism, and intensive support provides individualized case management to students most at risk of chronic absenteeism due to health conditions, housing insecurity and other challenges. Here’s a look at how to make them work:
Tier 1—School-wide prevention:
- Relevant instruction: Teenagers who skip school often cite “boredom” and disengagement as a reason. In one study, high school students who followed a STEM career track were more eager to attend.
- Incentives: Rewards can work when administrators are clear about the students they want to reach and the behavior they need to change. Incentives can be simple, such as an attendance bulletin board for kindergartners or a middle school classroom competition.
- Rethinking recess: More structure at recess can reduce bullying that can often occur on the playground. Some districts have hired recess coordinators or coaches to train teachers to give students options for games on the playground. Through this approach, some children become playground leaders or “junior coaches.”
- Free meals for all: A universal approach reduces the stigma of receiving free meals and can also ensure that no student goes hungry because of challenges in applying for aid. Recent research has also linked universal free meals to better attendance in the early grades.
- Laundry at school: This is a new approach, but early evidence shows attendance improving at schools that have opened laundry facilities. Whirlpool is providing laundry appliances to about 130 schools through its Care Counts program. In the 2019-2020 school year, almost 75% of elementary students at risk of chronic absenteeism improved their attendance after they began participating in Care Counts.
Tier 2—Targeted support:
- Targeted youth engagement: Programs that help students develop problem-solving skills, self-control and emotional regulation, and stronger self-identification have been shown to reduce absenteeism. One such program is Positive Action, which has been piloted in Chicago and Hawaii and stresses getting along with others, and self-management in 15- to 20-minute segments.
- Addressing asthma: Nearly one in 10 U.S. children have asthma, a disease that accounts for nearly 14 million missed days a year, according to the CDC. Schools that have had success in reducing asthma-related absences are providing students with access to full-time nurses and conducting home visits to educate children and families on using asthma control medications.
- Mental health and school refusal: The more students who suffer from depression and anxiety miss school, the harder it becomes for them to return. The first step in solving this problem is for educators to determine if the cause is personal, such as anxiety around leaving home or failing grades, or something that is occurring at school, such as bullying or intense academic pressure. Cognitive behavior therapy—which includes relaxation techniques and social skill development—can then help students contend with the emotional distress that is preventing them from getting to school.
Tier 3—Intensive support:
- Housing insecurity: New York City is reducing absenteeism among housing-insecure students by providing the Department of Homeless Services with school data for students living in shelters. Shelter staff are now helping families enroll students in school, monitoring attendance and providing children with homework space.
- Rethinking truancy: Promoting attendance also requires administrators to abandon punitive approaches that have been shown to be ineffective at reducing truancy. School leaders and their teams also have to determine if bias is a factor in which absences are labeled unexcused. The report warns that the current surge in chronic absenteeism is driving some districts and states to consider strict new truancy rules.
