Widespread Problem of Chronic Absenteeism in Schools
Chronic absenteeism is on the rise in schools across the country as the latest national data reveals that approx. 70% of schools are experiencing increased student absences. In March 2020, school buildings across the country physically closed and transitioned to remote learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of students have not been seen in school districts since.Of those students who are missing, a disproportionate number are students of color, students experiencing homelessness, students with disabilities, English language learners, children in foster care, and children who are economically disadvantaged. Student absenteeism has a ripple effect on the school, family, and community. This urgent crisis demands immediate, effective action from all school community stakeholders.
The Collective Approach
In response to this growing trend, school administrators and educators must invest the time and resources towards collaborative, problem-solving efforts through the execution of multi-tiered interventions. Effectively addressing chronic absenteeism cannot be done in silos. It takes a unified commitment from the schools, families and community stakeholders to co-design actionable, innovative solutions to this growing issue. From identifying why students fail to show up to school, to how to get them back on track and ultimately graduate, it requires tiered intervention strategies for teachers, school counselors, nurses, and administrators, as well as absenteeism prevention strategies for families and tips for engaging the community to prevent chronic absenteeism.
Members of “the collective” need to be equipped with effective preventative (Tier 1), targeted (Tier 2) and individualized (Tier 3) supports and interventions.Universal strategies are implemented to support the attendance of ALL students. Professional learning sessions can be facilitated to ensure school-based stakeholders can identify early signs of disengagement and absenteeism and are equipped with attendance problem solving strategies. Truancy prevention and compulsory attendance information is shared with parents/guardians each during school registration. Compulsory attendance education classes should be offered to parents in various home languages throughout the school year. During the first week of school, students can receive explicit instruction on good attendance habits.
Daily school attendance is vital for life effectiveness Studies show that school attendance directly affects students’ academic and behavioral outcomes. Additionally, student absenteeism has a ripple effect on the school, family, and community. School districts must design systems that bring campus staff, families and community partners together to develop solutions that address barriers to student attendance. The book “Upstream” written by author Dan Heath. explores upstream strategies from some of the world’s most successful, unconventional problem-solvers. One strategy, in particular, focused on convening the right people, aligning the focus around the right issue who share resources and services to design solutions to address the root causes. Such a professional learning experience plants the seed in the hearts and minds of educational leaders to establish a unified commitment to strategically work together to dig deeper to improve student attendance amongst students exhibiting patterns of absenteeism.
The growth of strong school, family community partnerships play a key role in alleviating barriers to student attendance. Join my online, on-demand webinar “Where are Our Students?” at Chronic Absenteeism Online Training | ED311 Events for more tiered attendance-promoting strategies for various roles such as: administrators, teachers, school nurses, counselors, businesses, community agencies, etc. such as the examples below:
Resources
Quick Reference Attendance Guide: www.nprinc.com/chronic-absenteeism/ RestorativeFlo Consulting Website: www.restorativefloeducationalsolutions.com
LinkedIn: Sharon Bradley, M.Ed. | LinkedIn
About the Author
Sharon Bradley is the Principal Consultant of RestorativeFlo Educational Solutions, LLC and also serves as a school district administrator where she has helped shape the district’s approach to social and emotional development and truancy prevention for all students. Throughout her 22 years in education, she has served as director, alternative high school principal, assistant principal, dropout prevention program coordinator, special education teacher, and behavior specialist. In her current role, she supports programs such as: Attendance, Social Emotional Learning, Restorative Practices, and Parent Education and Engagement. Sharon Bradley has recently been recognized by Education-First “SEL in Action” and D CEO Magazine for her innovative efforts of leveraging SEL to help decrease chronic absenteeism. Sharon is the author of the reference guide “Chronic Absenteeism: Prevention and Intervention Strategies for Schools, Families and Communities”. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Special Education; and her master’s degree in Educational Administration from Prairie View A & M University.
