September is National School Attendance Awareness Month. Exacerbated by COVID, chronic absenteeism remains persistently high and has reportedly more than doubled since the start of the pandemic, from 8 million to an estimated 16 million students nationwide. Chronic absenteeism represents lost instructional time for students and has obvious consequences. Teacher effectiveness is the strongest school-related determinant of student success, but chronic absenteeism diminishes even the best teacher’s ability to bring about student success.
The concept of truancy and chronic absenteeism are often used interchangeably but signify different aspects of student absenteeism, thus necessitating distinct solutions for school system leaders. Truancy refers to unexcused absences without the knowledge or permission of parents and school authorities. Chronic absenteeism, however, encompasses both excused and unexcused absences, referring to a student missing a significant amount of school days, typically 10% or more in an academic year.
Truancy usually involves students deliberately skipping school, often without parental knowledge. It’s not just playing hooky; truancy can be indicative of underlying issues such as academic struggles, school phobia, or family problems. Truant behavior can lead to academic decline, decreased graduation rates, and increased risk of involvement in the juvenile justice system.
Solutions for Truancy
Early Identification and intervention: School system leaders should implement systems to identify truant students early and initiate interventions to address the root causes of the behavior.
Mentorship Programs: Pairing truant students with mentors can provide them with the guidance and support they need to overcome challenges and stay engaged in school.
Parental Involvement: Involving parents as partners in addressing truancy is essential as they play a crucial role in shaping the child’s attitude towards education.
Chronic absenteeism is a broader term that includes all absences, excused or unexcused, and it indicates a student is missing a substantial amount of school time. This can be due to various reasons such as long-term illness, family responsibilities, or transportation issues. Chronic absenteeism can have detrimental effects, impacting academic achievement, social-emotional development, and the likelihood of graduating. Further, research suggests that punitive actions hurt more than they help (e.g., punishing students for missing school by making them miss more school or threatening parents with legal actions).
Solutions for Chronic Absenteeism
Addressing Barriers: School system leaders need to identify and address the barriers that contribute to chronic absenteeism, such as providing transportation solutions or offering flexible scheduling for students with family responsibilities.
Health and Wellness Programs: Implementing health and wellness programs can address physical and mental health issues that contribute to extended absences.
Family Support Services: Offering support services to families facing challenges can help in reducing the rate of chronic absenteeism, ensuring that the family environment is conducive to regular school attendance.
We cannot fix what we don’t understand. Addressing truancy and chronic absenteeism requires a multi-faceted approach, involving not just educators, but also parents, community members, various support services, and city leaders to co-construct solutions. By understanding the differences between truancy and chronic absenteeism while creating problem solving partnerships, school system leaders can tailor their interventions to meet the unique needs of each student and cultivate an environment that fosters consistent attendance and academic success.