How can we improve school attendance?
Poor school attendance can negatively affect young people's behavior and future health. It is a growing public health concern because rates of persistent school absence have risen considerably and remained high in some parts of the country since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Persistent school absenteeism is a growing public health issue that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. A new systematic review analyzing 61 randomized controlled trials from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States has identified effective interventions to improve school attendance. Engaging with parents, improving communication between parents and schools, and providing mentoring support consistently yielded positive results, particularly for younger students.
While interventions targeting social-emotional skills, behavioral issues, and high-risk students showed some promise, these approaches have less robust evidence. The review emphasizes that a narrow, one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to address the diverse causes of absenteeism, especially since disadvantaged students are disproportionately affected.
Professor Ann John from Swansea University stressed that addressing attendance requires complex solutions that consider the unique circumstances of each student population. The findings suggest that targeted interventions, such as parental engagement and individual mentoring, could be scaled nationally to support educators in building stronger relationships with students and their families.
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