Nearly 1 in 4 students are chronically absent from school – kids who feel happy and safe are less likely to be chronically absent
Research on absenteeism often focuses on factors like unreliable transportation, overlooking what schools themselves can do to help kids maintain a steady attendance record.
Nearly 1 in 4 students in the United States are chronically absent from school, missing at least 10% of the academic year. This issue has worsened since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, when about 15% of students missed that much school. By 2023, the figure had nearly doubled to more than 28%. This rate remains at around 23% nationally today.
Researchers attribute this problem to various factors, such as poverty, unreliable transportation, and housing instability. However, these issues require long-term policy changes that are often slow to implement. This situation can make educators feel defeated, leading them to believe absenteeism is too large and entrenched to tackle meaningfully.
Educators and researchers have found that a positive school climate significantly reduces chronic absenteeism, even for students most at risk. School climate refers to how students experience their schools daily, encompassing elements like safety, a sense of belonging, supportive adults, and an environment conducive to learning. When students feel safe, connected, and supported, they are less likely to miss school.
A study of Georgia students found that school climate plays a significant role in attendance. A school's climate is shaped by factors such as student safety, a sense of belonging, supportive adults, and effective learning conditions. When students perceive their school becoming less welcoming and supportive, their absences can spike dramatically, particularly among Black and Latino students.
To address this issue, schools should focus on improving the school climate by creating a welcoming environment that fosters connectedness, safety, and structure for learning. School leaders and teachers should acknowledge the challenges some students face and ask whether they are genuinely inviting students in or pushing them away. While strategies like communication and incentives might be helpful, investing in school climate is a more comprehensive approach to reducing chronic absenteeism.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
