Across the nation, chronic absenteeism has soared in K12 public schools since the pandemic. Although it may have been an issue in some districts pre-COVID, the issue has been exacerbated at unprecedented levels. In fact, two-thirds of enrolled students during the 2021-22 school year attended a school with “high” or “extreme” levels of chronic absence, a new analysis declares.
The findings come from Attendance Works, an organization that seeks to guide effective attendance policies. Based on the latest available data from the U.S. Department of Education, the researchers discovered that chronic absenteeism in K12 schools has skyrocketed in recent years. For comparison, only 25% of students attended schools with “high” or “extreme” chronic absences before the pandemic. Unfortunately for educators, these challenges come with unintended consequences.
“Not only is teaching and learning more challenging when large numbers of students are frequently missing class, such elevated levels of chronic absence can easily overwhelm a school’s capacity to respond,” the analysis reads.
In total, nearly 14.7 million students (29.7%) were chronically absent in the 2021-22 school year, meaning close to one-third of students missed 10% or more of school. The data indicates an increase of about 6.5 million students compared to one year prior to the pandemic.
As for the most recent school year, the researchers note in a separate report that chronic absenteeism remains a “significant challenge” for K12 leaders. The data, which was aggregated across 11 states, reveals the slightest dip in chronic absence rates of 2.23%.
Though the issue varies state by state, it’s but a small improvement to a nationwide epidemic.
“This data demonstrates that the high levels of chronic absenteeism occurring in the 2021-22 school year were not an anomaly,” the researchers wrote. “Re-establishing a routine of attendance every day will require intentional, sustained and systemic efforts at the local, state and national levels to address the disengagement and increased barriers to attendance occurring during the pandemic and in its aftermath.”
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Advice for leaders
Attendance Works recommends that leaders demonstrate systemic responses that work to build a culture that encourages daily attendance. Educators should outline the “positive conditions for learning” that push students to show up to school while removing the barriers and inequities tied to absenteeism.
“This means we must redouble actions to create physically and emotionally healthy and safe learning environments while also cultivating a sense of belonging, connection and support for every student and family,” the report reads.
District Administration also recently showcased four innovative ways leaders are working to curb chronic absenteeism this school year. Learn how your fellow state and district leaders are tackling this issue.
4 ways leaders are hoping to curb chronic absenteeism this year
