How to reduce chronic absenteeism in schools

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the rate of students who are chronically absent (defined as missing just under a month of class) has doubled to 26 percent nationwide, reaching crisis levels and threatening the educational foundation of our nation's youth. It is estimated that chronic absenteeism is responsible for up to 27 percent of the overall decline in math test scores and a shocking 45 percent drop in reading scores between 2019 and 2022.

To combat this problem, the company Edia recently introduced an ai-powered platform aimed at school districts across the United States. Within minutes of an absence, Edia initiates personalized ai-powered conversations with families in over 100 languages, enabling school districts to identify and address the root causes of chronic absenteeism.

“Today, nearly three-quarters of absences are unexplained, meaning no one called ahead and districts don't know where those kids are,” said Joe Philleo, CEO of Edia. “With so many students missing school, staff do not have the ability to communicate with each family and understand what is happening with their children.”

“Every situation is different,” Philleo continues. “When staff don't know the reason students are missing school, they can't fix the root cause. “One student may miss school because they don’t have reliable transportation, and another student may miss Math and English in the morning and simply attend Computer Science and Welding at the end of the day because they find those classes more interesting.”

By leveraging ai, Edia enables schools to identify and resolve the root causes of chronic absenteeism. Their system ensures that no absence goes unnoticed, helping to restore accountability, rebuild connections between schools and families, and resolve underlying challenges that prevent students from attending class.

Key features of the Edia ai platform include:

1. ai conversations within minutes of absence: Personalized text message conversations in over 100 languages ​​sent to parents within minutes of an absence, reducing unexplained absences by up to 80 percent.
2. Analysis to understand why students miss class: Texts, calls and notes are combined into a single profile to identify why students are missing school and allow teams to take appropriate action.
3. Workflows designed specifically for MTSS interventions: Ability to launch, track, and coordinate personalized intervention plans for at-risk students.

Edia's new solution is currently used in K-12 school districts across the country, including Raton Public Schools, Farmington Municipal Schools, and Hobbs Municipal Schools.

“Chronic absenteeism is a major problem in education and in Raton Public Schools that can severely impact student achievement and a student's long-term success,” Kristie Medina, Superintendent of Raton Public Schools. “Refers to students who miss a substantial number of school days, generally defined as 10 percent or more of the school year, for any reason, whether excused or unexcused. The challenge of chronic absenteeism lies in its widespread impact, affecting not only individual students but the entire school community. Our district is committed to addressing chronic absenteeism because it is critical to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed and thrive both in school and in life.

Medina continued, “I am really excited for Raton Public Schools to implement Edia's ai attendance solution! Integrating ai into attendance tracking and improvement will be a game-changer, especially when addressing chronic absenteeism. By leveraging ai, the district can gain deeper insights into attendance patterns, identify at-risk students sooner, and tailor interventions more effectively.”

Kevin is a forward-thinking media executive with over 25 years of experience building brands and audiences online, in print and face-to-face. He is an acclaimed writer, editor, and commentator covering the intersection of society and technology, especially educational technology. You can contact Kevin at [email protected]

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