SCHOOLS KEEP LOSING THEIR SHEEP: A TALE OF CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM

 

SCHOOLS KEEP LOSING THEIR SHEEP: A TALE OF CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM

We all remember the nursery rhyme about Little Bo Peep and her lost sheep. But did you know that schools these days are losing their own sheep too? Yes, I'm talking about chronic absenteeism, the bane of every teacher's existence. It's like trying to herd cats, only worse.

You see, chronic absenteeism is when a student misses at least 10 percent of school days for any reason, including excused and unexcused absences. That's like missing two days every month, which adds up to 18 to 20 days in a school year. And let's face it, if you're not in school, you're not learning. It's like trying to win a race without showing up to the starting line.

But why are students not showing up to school? Is it because they're sick? Or because they're being bullied? Or because they're just too lazy to get out of bed? Well, according to a recent study, students who come from low-income families, students of color, students with disabilities, and students involved in the juvenile justice system are more likely to be chronically absent. And let's not forget about the social determinants of health, like unsafe school conditions, housing instability, and substance abuse, that can also affect attendance.

Now, you might be thinking, "Well, why can't the schools just fix all these problems?" Ah, if only it were that easy. You see, chronic absenteeism is a complex issue with no easy solutions. It's like trying to untangle a ball of yarn that's been chewed up by a cat. You have to take it one strand at a time.

But fear not, dear reader, for there is hope. The federal initiative Every Student, Every Day has produced a toolkit that outlines how schools can do more to prevent chronic absenteeism. And let me tell you, some of these ideas are pure genius.

For example, one program called AttenDANCE rewards middle school students for being present at least 95 percent of their second quarter of school by letting them attend a dance. Yes, you heard that right. A dance. Because apparently, nothing motivates kids more than the chance to bust a move with their friends.

Another program called Count Me In! rewards entire districts for good attendance with prizes like a new car for one lucky high schooler. I mean, who needs good grades when you can have a shiny new ride, am I right?

But in all seriousness, chronic absenteeism is a serious issue that affects not only academic achievement but also social-emotional development and future outcomes. We need to take it seriously and address the underlying causes with evidence-based interventions and best practices.

So, if you're a teacher or a parent or just someone who cares about education, let's work together to keep those sheep in the fold. Because if we don't, we might end up with a whole lot of Little Bo Peeps running around wondering where their education went.

Millions of kids are missing weeks of school as attendance tanks across the US | EdSource https://edsource.org/2023/millions-of-kids-are-missing-weeks-of-school-as-attendance-tanks-across-the-us/695460 

Chronic absenteeism | American Federation of Teachers https://www.aft.org/childrens-health-safety-and-well-being/childrens-access-care/chronic-absenteeism#:~:text=Additionally%2C%20major%20social%20determinants%20of,delinquency%20affect%20a%20student's%20attendance

More than 300,000 Colorado students chronically absent last year https://www.denverpost.com/2023/08/11/colorado-chronically-absent-students-enrollment-pandemic/ 

Sacramento schools see huge increase in chronic absences | The Sacramento Bee https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/education/article278140457.html 

 

THE DEFT DIVE

FROM BARD AI

School attendance and chronic absenteeism:

• What is chronic absenteeism?

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason. This can include excused absences (such as illness or family emergencies) and unexcused absences (such as truancy). Students who are chronically absent are at a much higher risk of academic failure, dropping out of school, and engaging in risky behaviors.

• What are the causes of chronic absenteeism?

There are many factors that can contribute to chronic absenteeism, including:

• * Poverty: Students living in poverty are more likely to be chronically absent due to a lack of reliable transportation, food insecurity, and unstable housing.
• * Homelessness: Homeless students are more likely to be chronically absent due to unstable housing and a lack of access to basic necessities.
• * Health problems: Students with chronic health problems are more likely to be absent from school.
• * Learning disabilities: Students with learning disabilities may struggle to keep up in school and may be more likely to miss school due to frustration or anxiety.
• * Mental health problems: Students with mental health problems may also be more likely to miss school due to anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues.
• * Truancy: Truancy is the intentional act of skipping school. Students who truant may do so for a variety of reasons, such as boredom, peer pressure, or family problems.

How does chronic absenteeism affect academic performance?

Chronic absenteeism has a significant negative impact on academic performance. Students who are chronically absent are more likely to score lower on standardized tests, have lower grades, and be less likely to graduate from high school. They are also more likely to drop out of school and engage in risky behaviors, such as substance abuse and crime.

What can be done to address chronic absenteeism?

There are a number of things that can be done to address chronic absenteeism, including:

• * Early intervention: Schools should identify students who are at risk of chronic absenteeism early on and provide them with support services.
• * Family engagement: Schools should work with families to understand the reasons why their children are absent and develop strategies to improve attendance.
• * Community partnerships: Schools should partner with community organizations to provide students with access to resources that can help them overcome barriers to attendance, such as transportation, food, and health care.
• * School climate: Schools should create a positive school climate that makes students feel safe and welcome. This can help to reduce truancy and increase attendance.

Chronic absenteeism is a serious problem that has a significant impact on students' academic achievement and life outcomes. By taking steps to address chronic absenteeism, we can help to ensure that all students have the opportunity to succeed in school and beyond.

In addition to the causes and effects of chronic absenteeism that I mentioned above, here are some other things to keep in mind:

• Chronic absenteeism is a complex issue with no easy solutions. It is important to address the underlying causes of chronic absenteeism in order to make a lasting impact.
• Schools and communities need to work together to address chronic absenteeism. No single entity can solve this problem on its own.
• Early intervention is key to preventing chronic absenteeism. Schools need to identify students who are at risk of chronic absenteeism early on and provide them with support services.
• Families play a critical role in preventing chronic absenteeism. Schools need to work with families to understand the reasons why their children are absent and develop strategies to improve attendance.
• Community partnerships are essential to addressing chronic absenteeism. Schools need to partner with community organizations to provide students with access to resources that can help them overcome barriers to attendance, such as transportation, food, and health care.

FROM BING AI

School attendance and chronic absenteeism are important topics in education research and policy. School attendance refers to the number of days a student attends school in a given period, usually a school year. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, including excused and unexcused absences, suspensions, and health problems¹. Chronic absenteeism can have negative effects on students' academic achievement, social-emotional development, and future outcomes².

There are many factors that can influence school attendance and chronic absenteeism, such as individual, family, school, community, and systemic issues. Some of the common causes of absenteeism include:

• - Illness or injury
• - Mental health problems
• - Family responsibilities or emergencies
• - Transportation difficulties
• - Safety concerns
• - Bullying or harassment
• - Disengagement or boredom
• - Lack of support or resources³

To address school attendance and chronic absenteeism, researchers and practitioners have proposed and implemented various interventions and best practices at different levels. Some of the general strategies include:

• - Monitoring and analyzing attendance data to identify patterns and trends
• - Communicating with students and families about the importance and expectations of attendance
• - Providing positive incentives and recognition for good attendance
• - Offering personalized support and guidance for students at risk of chronic absenteeism
• - Collaborating with community partners and agencies to address barriers and provide services⁴

Some examples of specific interventions and best practices are:

• - Early warning systems that use data to identify and intervene with students who show signs of chronic absenteeism⁵
• - Mentoring programs that pair students with caring adults who provide academic, social, and emotional support⁶
• - Youth engagement activities that involve students in meaningful and relevant learning opportunities that foster their interests, skills, and goals⁷
• - Addressing asthma management and prevention as a common health issue that affects school attendance⁸
• - Providing targeted transportation solutions for students who face challenges in accessing school due to distance, cost, or safety⁹
• - Truancy courts that use legal authority and incentives to hold students and families accountable for school attendance[^10^]
• - Interagency case management that coordinates services and resources across multiple sectors to address complex needs of students and families¹¹
• - Housing interventions that stabilize housing situations and reduce homelessness as a major risk factor for chronic absenteeism¹²

These are some of the ways that school attendance and chronic absenteeism can be understood and improved. 

Bing, 8/11/2023

• (1) Chronic absenteeism in Mass. has doubled since before the pandemic. https://www.boston.com/news/schools/2023/08/11/chronic-absenteeism-in-mass-has-doubled-since-before-the-pandemic/.
• (2) Millions of kids are missing weeks of school as attendance tanks across the US. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/millions-of-kids-are-missing-weeks-of-school-as-attendance-tanks-across-the-us/ar-AA1f97oq.
• (3) Richland School District 2 tries to combat 'chronic absenteeism'. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/richland-school-district-2-tries-to-combat-chronic-absenteeism/ar-AA1f6iWq.
• (4) School Attendance, Truancy & Chronic Absenteeism: What Parents Need to .... https://healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/gradeschool/school/Pages/School-Attendance-Truancy-Chronic-Absenteeism.aspx.
• (5) Millions of kids are missing weeks of school as attendance tanks across .... https://apnews.com/article/back-to-school-attendance-pandemic-chronic-absenteeism-90c05e3013b72802439565250d1adc33.
• (6) School Absenteeism in Children and Adolescents | AAFP. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2018/1215/p738.html.
• (7) Chronic Absenteeism | Effects of Being Chronically Absent - Understood. https://www.understood.org/en/articles/chronic-absenteeism-what-you-need-to-know.
• (8) Why Is School Attendance Important? | American University. https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/importance-of-school-attendance/.
• (9) Students’ attendance affects their progress in school, and poor .... https://www.attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Chronic-Absenteeism-and-School-Health-Brief-1.pdf.
• (10) The Link Between School Attendance and Good Health. https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/143/2/e20183648/37326/The-Link-Between-School-Attendance-and-Good-Health.
• (11) Chronic absenteeism: An old problem in search of new answers. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/chronic-absenteeism-an-old-problem-in-search-of-new-answers/.
• (12) 3 Tiers of Intervention - Attendance Works. https://www.attendanceworks.org/chronic-absence/addressing-chronic-absence/3-tiers-of-intervention/.
• (13) Strategies For School Sites - Attendance Works. https://www.attendanceworks.org/chronic-absence/addressing-chronic-absence/strategies-for-school-sites/.
• (14) 6 Strategies to Combat Chronic Absenteeism and Improve School Attendance. https://www.parentsquare.com/blog/chronic-absenteeism/.
• (15) Here's How You Can Prevent Chronic Absenteeism and Promote School .... https://www.waterford.org/education/school-attendance/.
• (16) PUBLIC SCHOOLS Chronic Absenteeism - ed. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED595241.pdf.
• (17) Frontiers | School attendance and school absenteeism: A primer for the .... https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feduc.2022.1044608/full.
• (18) ATTENDANCE PLAYBOOK - FutureEd. https://www.future-ed.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Attendance-Playbook.pdf.
• (19) undefined. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2022.1044608.