How chronic absenteeism shifted in Canadian kindergarten after COVID‑19

This report examines changes in kindergarten absenteeism rates in Canada following the COVID-19 pandemic. Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing at least 10% of school days or two days a month, rose significantly from 17.7% pre-pandemic to 41.3% after the pandemic began. Researchers analyzed data from over 513,000 Canadian kindergarten children across eight provinces and territories, comparing those who attended before and after the pandemic.

Factors contributing to the increase in absenteeism included changes in children's health, behavior, family circumstances, community conditions, and school policies. However, an unexpected finding was that after the pandemic began, chronically absent children were less likely to be developmentally vulnerable compared to those who missed school frequently before the pandemic.

This shift may be due to demographic changes, with a higher proportion of chronically absent students living in higher socioeconomic status neighborhoods after the pandemic. Previous research suggests that children from higher SES backgrounds typically have better developmental outcomes, which may have influenced the association between absenteeism and developmental vulnerability.

The study emphasizes the importance of understanding why children miss school and how this impacts their learning and development. The pandemic's effects on these outcomes are still being researched, as are potential solutions to reduce missed school days. While some absences are unavoidable, schools can implement strategies to support learning during absences, such as online learning resources and targeted assistance for families facing barriers.

Addressing absenteeism requires flexible, long-term approaches that consider the diverse needs of students and their families.