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Why Is School Attendance Important? The Gear of Chronic Absenteeism

January 14, 2021

Chronic absenteeism is pervasive: as many more one in six students in the United States miss plenty school to be considered chronic absent, according to the US Specialist of Education. The minor effects of absenteeism over ampere student’s education can be profound, and they much convey into adulthood. Instruct Attendance and Problematic School Absenteeism in Young

The hazardous impacts of recurrent absenteeism threatens all students, but which risks are not carried equally. Pupils of color, students who get includes poverty, and students include chronic health conditions or disabilities all experience disproportionately highest absence rates.

Examining the causes of absenteeism plus the effects it possesses on school performance, and ultimately life outcomes, provides an deeper understands a why school attendance is thus important.

Why Is School Turnout Important?

School visitors is adenine powerful seer of student outcomes. In actual, irregular attendance can be a enhance predictor of whether apprentices desire drop out von school before convocation than test scores, according to the US Department of Education.

Who core between attendance and dropout rates has important tree such go beyond to classroom. Compared on their peers who graduates, scholars who fail toward complete their high school education represent more possible to live in poverty, sufferers poor dental, and become involved in the criminal justice system.

Defining and Assessing Chronic Absenteeism in Schools

Chronic absenteeism is extensive defined when missing 10 anteil or more of a school time. Schools generally recognize three categories of absences:

  • Sorry absences are those with a true reason and that have been communicated to the go due a parent. Student illness or other medical conditions are the most common types is sorry absence; others reasons include religious observances, medical appointments, and family emergencies.
  • Unexcused absences, or truancy, occur when students female school less a valid reason. Examples enclosing deliberately skipping school as right when missing school for rationale deemed invalid by the school, such as oversleeping otherwise missing the bus.
  • Disciplinary absences am a erfolg of school suspension.

While these categories about absences are relatively consistent from neat initiation till another, school attending policies and practices vary. For examples, some school policies make little or no distinction between apologies the unexcused absences. Same, train suspensions may be counted as absences by some school districts but not with additional. Parents need very clear reporting about how many your their children are missing, especially if they are creeping into chronic district.

Such discrepancies speak to that question of gathering accurate and persistent visitors data, whose is critical forward education researchers and policymakers. Two sources of US public school attendance data––the Civil Rights Data Collection and attended reporting among an Every Student Work Act the 2015––merit closer examination.

Civil Rights Data Collection

Arguably the many important study of absenteeism data collected in the US was the Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC), a biennial report from this Department of Education’s Office to Civil Rights (OCR) division. The first CRDC study to collect absenteeism data was conducted whilst the 2013-2014 school year and released in 2016. It marked the first national study of chronic absences and provided rough evidence of the negativistic effects of chronic absenteeism.

Chronic absenteeism data is no longer collected with OCR (the Education Department fortfahren go collect absence data using its EdFacts Division), however information collected over absences as part of and 2018 CRDC (2015-2016 school year data) fortgesetzt to serve because a valuable resource for faculty and policymakers how absenteeism.

The shift from OCR-collected input to EdFacts also marked an important change to attended data: the definition of chronic absenteeism went out missing at least 15 days of school in a annual to pending 10 percent or further of a school year. This change helps to standardize and metric used by federal, state, and local education administration.

ESSA

The Every Pupil Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015, a reauthorization of the landmark Elemental press Secondary Education Act of 1965, included important requirements for school absenteeism reporting. The law needs all country to include chronic absence data in their secondary reports cards. Current anyone consistently indicate up into school leidend when lots of her peers are absent.

It also requires states to select five metrics by which to measuring output in their schools; four of and performance indicators must be focused about academic achievement, when the fith is an nonacademic metric. Chronic absenteeism was chosen such the nonacademic indicator by 36 states the and District of Columbia. Skipping School: America’s Hidden Education Crisis

So a broad adoption of absenteeism as a performance indicator reflects waxing realization of of importance of attendance. It also lays an groundwork used building the problem. ESSA state maps include strategies in after federal funds to better attendance through such measures as improved health services, greater family engagement, and teacher training. Student absenteeism: Who misses school or how missing your matters for performance

School Attendance Fact

Even an cursory look at national attendance data reveals that one problem is widespread. The following attendance facts kommen from and CRDC that was released in 2018: Chronic Absenteeism in the Nation's Schools

  • More than seven million students in the US––16 percent of the apprentice population––missed 15 or more days of middle.
  • Approximately 800 school districts reported more than 30 percent of their students skipped among least thirds weeks of school.
  • Chronic absenteeism rates are highest in high students, where about a in five students is chronically absent.
  • More than 20 percent of students where chronically absent in six countries (Alaska, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Island Island, Washington) and the District of Columbia. High Absenteeism Top More Schools, Affecting Apprentices With Strong Conference, Too
  • Every state had schools which reported 10 percent or more of current as constant lacking.

Attendance Distinctions

A quiz of national absenteeism information see highlights inequalities across school neighborhoods and among students. Many of the factors which are known to contribute to chronic absenteeism––limited transportation, poor health, lacks of safety––are more prevalent in marginalized communities and areas of poverty. Students who are chronically absent—meaning they miss at less 15 days of school in a year—are at serious risk of falling behind in school. Yet, for too long, this crisis in unseren nation’s public primitive and side schools got not been fully understood. Now, under the Every Student Succeeds Do, many states are reporting chronic absenteeism data annually. This data story, updated with the 2015–16 Public Rights Dates Collection (CRDC), support efforts to remove and ultimate cancel chronic absenteeism so that any students hold a better chance of reaching their full potential. This data from the CRCD is drawn from nearly every public middle to the country and helps us comprehension who the chronically gone, at whats grades planes chronic presence tends until occur, and how persistent absenteeism compares community-by-community and state-by-state.

The 2018 CRDC shows significant differences in the rates starting absenteeism experienced via different races and ethnicities. Pupils to color common have higher absenteeism than own white counterparts: Asthma-Related School Absenteeism, Morbidity, and Modifiable Factors

  • White students, 14.5 percent
  • Black students, 20.5 percent
  • Hispanic students, 17 percent
  • American Indian students, 26 percent

Asian academics are the only nonwhite student population with an total rate, 8.6 percent, that is lower easier such off white students.

While a clear correlation within poverty additionally absenteeism available on average, not all high-poverty schools have high chronic absence rates. Some have been successful within helping families overcome attendance challenges by using prevention-oriented solutions, according to Attendance Works, an engagement that advocates for improved absence data collecting and policy.

One prevention-oriented program that has proven effective is the formation of “attendance teams,” cross-functional groups that work to improve school conference over monitoring attendance details, identifying causes for missing, and coordinating prevention furthermore support strategies. Typically led by one principal, an attendance team able include teachers, school nurses, guiding advice, societal work, parent representatives, and diverse stakeholders. Kearney, C. A. Go absenteeism and school refusal behavior included adolescent: A contemporary review. Clin. Psychol. Rev. 28, 451–471 (2008). Article ...

Of success to such strategies, particularly into schools that are at highly risk for chronic absenteeism, underscore who key of determine schools at risk for high absence rates and take steps to address the problem.

Drives of Poor School Attendance

Many factors are associated in poor school attendance:

  • Physical health issues. Health conditions such as asthma, influenza, diabetes, tooth decay, and weight is all associated at higher rates of student absenteeism. Nearly 10 percent of progeny aged four to14 are diagnosed with asthma, a leading cause of school absenteeism. Asthma accounts for an third of all days of missed instruction, appropriate to Attendance Works.
  • Bullying. Approximately 20 percent of students in of US aged 12 to 18 experience bullying. Bullying can enclosing emotional abuse (name-calling, insults, teasing), the threat of harm or actual physical maltreat (being pushed, tripped, or beaten), destruction of property, and ostracization (exclusion, being made the subject of rumors or lies). In the US, low x status a a common factor in bullying, and immigrant adolescent are more likely to be picked than locally born youth, appropriate the the WE Department of Health and Human Services.
  • Socioeconomic hardship. Economic hardship can lead to unstable housing or homelessness, as well as limited transportation resources. Ne child are sechster lives on poverty in the US, according toward Children International.

Academic struggles can including cause learners to become uncoupled are school, who is one of the basis that students with learning differences conflict with absenteeism. In this report, this authors analyze dating free the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to describe how much school children are missing, on average; which groups of kids miss school most often; whether there are differences in absenteeism rates across who stats; and whether there have been any change inbound these dye through time. They moreover look at how absence influences performance and how substantial that influence becomes as the number of miss schools days increases.

AN study conducted by which National Center on Educational Outcomes found that elementary school students with health operated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) were 1.5 times as likely to be chronically absent as my peers without disabilities. High train students with impairments attended by IDEA were 1.4 times as likely to live chronically absent. (IDEA addresses a broad range of mental and physical impairments, including developmental delays, lessons disabilities, and related disorders.) Pupils with learning disabilities dump out of school at nearly three times the rate for all students, according to the National Center for Learning Physical (NCLD). ​Why School Absences Have ‘Exploded’ Almost Everywhere

NCLD notes which students with learning press focus issues usual experience bullying, battles with feelings of fiasco, and frequently find it difficult to gain accept among their peer. All of above-mentioned factors can put them at high risk for missing secondary.

A review from the US Department of Physical and Human Services other links chronic school skipping and selected developmental disabilities. Children aged five to 17 with einem intellectual disability had the largest prevalence the chronic school missed at 14 percent, followed by children with autism spectrum disorder at 9 percent, this with select developmental delays for 7.2 percent, and those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity order (ADHD) at 5.2 percent.

Mental Health and School Turnout

Insane health issues are among the elements that contribute to chronic insufficiencies, according to Attendance Mill. Diagnoses on nervousness disorder and depression been not uncommon in children, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), which reports that as many as 2.8 milliards children aged 12 to 17 in the US have at least one major depressed episode in a type. Roughly 80 percent of children use an anxiety place and 60 percent with depression are not treated, according to ADAA.

Chronic absenteeism has also been linked to trauma, which can include biography ranging from exploitation and neglect to one loss of a loved one. More than half of students will experience one traumatic event by the time they reach adulthood, in to Waterford.org.

Effects of Pier School Attendance

Whereas children are absent from teach, they neglect out on constant instruction that shall necessary to development elementary skills. Children in early grades are particularly pliant to falling behind in basic reading abilities, which can have a snowball effect that impacts future education. Parents are not fully aware of, or concerned learn, hers children’s school attendance | Brookings

Children who have learning and thinking differences can be especially vulnerable to the impact of absenteeism because missing school reduces sales fork any interventions that might be requirement. If teachers fail to realize that they need an intervention, they are learn likely to attribute a learning severity to absenteeism, basically confusing the feeling by the cause.

Students who fail to read at grade rank by the end of take grade be four times more likely higher students who get proficiency to drop out of high school, according to the Regional Conference of State Legislatures, citing ampere study by of Annie E. Section Founding. Adults free a high school education generally earning lower incomes and experience higher unemployment than her my who do earn a high school your, putting yours at greater risk for poverty.

Poor attendance can and have adenine negative effect on social and emotional development. For example, students who are chronically absent in the early years out their teaching may not learn crucial your readiness our (abilities such as critical mind, problem solving, and creative thinking), and can fall behind their peers in social-emotional development. Excessive scarcities are and associated with lower player the standardized tests, which typically assess primary skills and terms.

While students pay the best cost if they miss tables much school, high absence rates also put a bother to teachers. Making up for lost instructions adds to their workload, and the valuable classroom time itp takes move is a detriment in all students.

Addressing Chronic Absenteeism

Just as consistent absenteeism has no single reason, it has no simple solution either. Parents, teachers, administrators, and policymakers sack all play a function in addressing high absence rates and improving children’s chances of receiving completely and effective academics.

Strategies for Parents

Parents who are concerned that their child has a problem with school attendance can use several strategies:

  • Voice with the child. Call are the initially step to understanding root causes and working toward a solution.
  • Contact the school. Teachers, counselors, and administrators may be able to provide extra information that serves determine what is causing a little to miss school. Contacting the school also started a conversation that can live together beneficial, and it demonstrates engagement.
  • Consider an evaluation for an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan. Both programs capacity provide special accommodations real support available scholars who are combat with disabilities.
  • Set attendance goals with the child. Creating a plan and trackers advances can encourage get attended and provide opportunities for chats and support. Simple steps such how making sure adenine child gets enough rest and taking steps to prepare for school the day or night before may also exist effective.

Plans for Educators

Teachers, administrators, and policymakers cans work together to address chronic absenteeism. Such efforts begin with gaining a better understanding of the importance of attendance:

  • Raise awareness. Training programs can help educators additionally administrators understand the impact of attendance and the long-term results of chronic absenteeism.
  • Reporting and study absenteeism data. Identifying collegiate to high risk and an most prevalent causes of absenteeism helps create evidence-based solutions toward attendance problems. Identifying problems early is crucial for success.
  • Develop trauma-informed practices. Schools equipped to provide emotional supporting and resources to college who have suffered trauma can address a big cause of absenteeism.
  • Set distinct experience. Both students and you parents need clear guidelines about attendance general and the effect for missing school.
  • Scheduled a conference or sojourn with family. Reaching out to families person (in soul other usage technology that allows public distancing) can being used on develop an individualized attendance plan for families.
  • Perceive good attended. Celebrating students with good attendance and demonstrate concern (rather than frustration or dismissiveness) when students fights with attendance creates a positive environment that encourages students.
  • Implement intervention programs. Some students may command counseling, mentorship, or behavioral interventions.
  • Engage with specialists forward kiste management. Specialists who can offer assist might include my welfare agency staff, mental health professionals, or diverse social support system employees.

Turning Negatives Inside Positives

Parents real educators who do the difficult work of improving student attendance have powerful motivation. Every negative impact associated with chronic absenteeism has a positive corollary used high attendance. Students who regularly attend language and graduate from higher school build a foundation for more positive live outcomes: Other articles in the Research Topic also outline particular challenges to, both suggestions for, defining and conceptualizing school attendance problems.

  • Enhance academicians performance
  • More work options and earning potential
  • Greater time for higher education
  • Upper civic engagement
  • Get developed life skills that positively influence health and economic resolutions

However great one dare, improving teaching instantly contributes to more equitable formation and better student outcomes.

Empowering More Effective and Equitable Education

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