Key points:
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, something has been missing from our education system since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tragically, it is children.
Chronic absenteeism remains a major problem in schools across the country. In 2022, the average The rate of chronic absenteeism reached 28 percent–an 88 percent increase over 2019. While this figure declined slightly in 2023, it remained nearly 80 percent higher than the national pre-pandemic baseline for chronic absenteeism.
That said, there is hope in the battle against student absenteeism, and it lies in the hands of teachers. A wide variety of professional development (PD) offerings are being used to potentially reduce classroom behavior problems and help increase student engagement. These two factors go a long way toward encouraging students to attend and remain in school, resulting in lower chronic absenteeism rates.
The importance of a positive school climate and culture
As an educator, you are innately aware of the tension and stress that occurs in your school, no matter the cause. And when the climate on campus is tense, kids feel it, too. It's a major factor in chronic absenteeism among students.
Let’s face it: the past few years have been challenging for educators, to say the least. The pandemic created a dynamic in schools like we’ve never experienced before, and there were times when the school climate bordered on chaotic. Bullying increased significantly during and after the pandemic, and teacher retention became a nationwide crisis.
No student should be afraid to go to school. It is our duty as educators to create a welcoming space for all of our students. Administrators must strive to create and maintain environments that are conducive to learning and where young people feel safe, supported, and valued. If that is not the case, most students simply do not want to be in the building. This can be accomplished by implementing school-wide anti-bullying initiatives, creating inclusion programs, having simple conversations, and maintaining a positive attitude in the classroom.
With effective professional learning that focuses on classroom management and behavioral strategies, district leaders can set their educators and students up for success by creating that safe, welcoming space and ideal learning environment.
Student participation is essential
Creating a positive school climate and culture is a crucial first step because it helps promote student engagement. And when students are engaged, they show up to school. While each student has his or her own individual needs and desires, most students feel engaged when:
- They feel welcome in the classroom. Getting to know your students is a critical component of understanding what makes them thrive. By doing so, you can make school a more personal and tailored experience for them.
- They have options. All children learn differently, and while it's difficult to individualize instruction for each child, giving students the opportunity to showcase their skills in different ways keeps them interested and excited about learning. For example, occasionally allowing them to complete an assignment or project using a different type of medium can go a long way toward encouraging engagement.
- They participate in student-centered learning. Students of any age can only listen to a lecture for so long before they begin to tune out the teacher completely. Giving them the opportunity to meet in groups or work independently allows them to break away from routine and recharge their batteries.
Professional development that specifically focuses on fostering a positive school climate and learning environment goes hand-in-hand with improving student engagement levels. By implementing this type of professional development, schools can begin to reduce their absenteeism rates and keep students learning.
Remember that professional development can help educators address a variety of academic challenges, including student behavior issues, classroom management, and student engagement. I have seen firsthand how professional learning opportunities designed to promote positive learning environments, inclusive and equitable classroom practices, and multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) can play a role in student engagement and help reduce absenteeism.
While chronic absenteeism is a nationwide problem, there are positive signs that progress is being made in districts that invest in high-quality professional development. The more districts address these issues, the faster we will see absenteeism rates decline.
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