How to deal with chronic absenteeism

Key points:

Across the country, teachers and educational leaders continue to grapple with rising rates of student absenteeism. Reducing chronic absenteeism among students is particularly important in the post-pandemic era as educators strive to close persistent learning gaps.

Students who are consistently absent miss out on much more than academics: they also miss out on key social interactions and supports that are crucial to their social-emotional development.

As chronic absenteeism rates rise, educators and industry leaders are thinking about ways to ensure students are in school learning and developing important social supports.

Here's the latest:

Communication between schools and parents or caregivers is absolutely critical, and the need for ongoing communication does not diminish as students get older, notes Dr. Kara Stern, director of Education and Engagement at State of the schoolStern recommends three key communication strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism rates: using multiple communication channels, tailoring messages to student interests, and using multi-tiered systems of support.

Stern also notes that attendance could be reimagined “as an essential part of the curriculum for both students and parents.” Doing so could “revolutionize the way schools, students, and families approach this critical aspect of education.” In fact, making attendance part of the curriculum—teaching it with the same rigor and methodology as math or science—can help students and families understand how consistent attendance impacts academic success and future opportunities. It goes beyond simply “following the rules” and conveys to students and families the importance of being present in school. Students could explore the ripple effects of attendance on their academic trajectory, their social connections, and their future career prospects. Parents and guardians could delve into the challenges and solutions around getting their children to attend school regularly and on time.

The White House Council of Economic Advisers found that chronic absenteeism contributed significantly to declines in National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores, accounting for 16 to 27 percent of NAEP score drops in math and 36 to 45 percent in reading, notes Jeremy Glauser, founder and CEO of eLuma. “Lower test scores only illuminate some of the problems caused by chronic absenteeism. Students who miss school also miss out on important social interaction with peers, access to regular meals, and special services like speech therapy or counseling. These students are also more likely to drop out of high school and less likely to continue on to postsecondary education, further impacting their future and societal growth as a whole,” Glauser adds. It is critical for educators to address key elements as they work to reduce chronic absenteeism, such as: why students miss school, taking a closer look at data, and ensuring students are prepared to reach their full potential.

A new bipartisan coalition is calling on schools to cut their chronic absenteeism rates in half compared to the 2021-22 school year, when rates peaked nationwide, by the 2026-27 school year. The goal is to reverse the alarming decline in attendance that occurred during the pandemic, when the share of children missing a lot of school nearly doubled. As part of the new campaign, the coalition plans to highlight examples of states and school districts that have successfully addressed absenteeism challenges.

According to a new study, school districts that implemented proactive and consistent attendance interventions saw a 22 percent improvement in chronic absenteeism rates from 2021-22 to 2022-23. Compared to only a 7 percent improvement nationally over that same time period, these districts implemented proactive, positive attendance management strategies and tools for three consecutive school years (2021-22, 2022-23, and 2023-24). High school students and larger districts show high rates of chronic absenteeism: In 2023-24, chronic absenteeism rates were highest among high school students, at 27.74 percent for 9th grade students, rising to 31.84 percent of 12th grade students. Chronic absenteeism was lowest in the early elementary grades, at a rate of 26 percent in kindergarten, and dropping to 16.5 percent in third grade.

Laura Ascione is the editorial director of eSchool Media. She holds a degree from the prestigious Philip Merrill School of Journalism at the University of Maryland.

Latest posts by Laura Ascione (see all)