Reimagine, Redesign, Re-Engage: Solutions for Chronic Absenteeism in Schools

Experiencing an asthma attack, not having a ride to school, being uninterested in what they’re learning, feeling unsafe or unvalued at school.

These are all reasons students might miss school. While absences have always been a concern, the number of students missing significant school time has soared from 15% in 2019 to a staggering 29.7% in 2022. That’s more than 14 million students who are missing too much school.

These absences aren’t just missed class time. They represent students voting with their feet, a message that the current system isn’t meeting their needs. Students might be disengaged, struggling with external challenges, or simply yearning for a more relevant learning experience.

What Is Chronic Absenteeism?

Think about a student who misses two days of school every month. That might not seem like much, but over the course of a year, it can translate to missing 10% of instructional time. This is the definition of chronic absenteeism—which has soared after the COVID pandemic.

It’s critical to note that all absences count, whether it’s excused (if a student is sick, for example), unexcused (if a student skips school, for example), or a suspension.

The urgency to address chronic absenteeism requires innovative and equitable solutions. A one-size-fits-all approach won’t work. We need to understand the root causes and create strategies that empower students and families.

Why Does Chronic Absenteeism Matter?

Chronic absenteeism isn’t just a matter of missed days. It has a cascading effect on students, schools, and the community as a whole. Here’s why it matters:

• Academic Impact: Missing out on classroom instruction creates gaps in foundational knowledge and hinders academic progress. Students who are chronically absent struggle to keep up with the curriculum, leading to frustration, disengagement, and lower grades.
• Social and Emotional Development: School is a vital space for social interaction and emotional learning. Chronic absence disrupts these opportunities, making it harder for students to develop healthy relationships, communication skills, and a sense of belonging.
• Graduation Rates: Studies show a strong correlation between chronic absenteeism and failing to graduate high school. Without a diploma, students face limited opportunities for higher education and employment, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and inequality.
• School Funding: Chronic absenteeism can impact a school’s funding, which in turn affects resources available for all students.

When schools provide engaging, supportive, welcoming and culturally responsive environments, families are inclined to help their children get to school, and students are motivated to attend, even when there are hurdles to getting there.

Attendance Works

Identifying the Root Causes of Chronic Absenteeism

Chronic absenteeism has complex roots. Socioeconomic factors like poverty and lack of access to healthcare can make it difficult for students to attend school regularly.

Attendance Works has identified four main reasons students miss school:

• Aversion to school, including an unwelcoming school climate
• Disengagement from school, including a lack of challenging, culturally responsive instruction
• Barriers to attendance, including chronic and acute illnesses
• Misconceptions about the impact of absences, including underreporting total absences

How to Reduce Chronic Absenteeism with the Leaps

What if we could create learning environments so engaging and empowering that students wouldn’t dream of missing out?

Attendance Works has also identified four conditions for learning that support those kinds of environments and reduce chronic absenteeism:

• Physical and emotional health and safety
• Belonging, connectedness, and support
• Academic challenge and engagement
• Adult and student social and emotional competence

Our Leaps for Equitable, 21st-Century Learning provide several opportunities to create those conditions for learning and help address chronic absenteeism:

• “High Expectations with Unlimited Opportunities” and “Rigorous Learning” challenge the one-size-fits-all approach. By fostering a culture of high expectations and offering diverse learning pathways, we make school engaging and relevant. Students invested in their learning journey are more likely to show up and be present.
• “Affirmation of Self & Others” fosters a sense of belonging, a critical factor in reducing absenteeism, especially for students from marginalized backgrounds.
• The “Whole-Child Focus” Leap champions the integration of social-emotional learning (SEL) into the curriculum. By equipping students with healthy coping mechanisms and emotional regulation skills, we address the root causes of absenteeism, promoting well-being and fostering a desire to participate in school life.
• “Active Self-Direction” encourages students to take ownership of their learning. When students have a say in how, when, and what they learn, they become active participants, fostering a sense of investment and boosting their motivation to attend school.
• The “Anytime, Anywhere Learning” Leap dismantles the rigid confines of traditional schedules and locations. By embracing technology and fostering flexible learning models, we can accommodate individual needs and circumstances, ensuring accessibility for every student.