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A Note from the Executive Director
In the days before and after a holiday, absences increase. To remind families of the opportunities students gain from being in school every day, send a letter home to families and caregivers before the Thanksgiving and Winter breaks.
Start by thanking families for their partnership. Keep students excited about school by planning a fun activity for the day before break begins and on the day school resumes.
Our analysis with the Everyone Graduates Center of recently released data from the U.S. Department of Education show striking findings at the school level: In 2021-22, two-thirds (66%) of enrolled students attended a school with high or extreme levels of chronic absence.
These exceptionally high levels absenteeism can be overwhelming. Reconnecting with both students and families is critical for putting in place meaningful solutions to support academic success and re-establishing a norm of every day attendance. New research from Learning Heroes shows chronic absenteeism was significantly lower at schools with strong family engagement.
There are numerous examples of schools and districts using effective practices – some adopted prior to the pandemic and others developed during – to re-engage families and students to address and overcome attendance barriers. We just wrapped up the 2023 AAC and its four webinars, each with educators and community organizations talking about how they are creating positive conditions for learning to engage students and families to improve attendance.
Pediatricians are crucial partners for helping schools and families to reduce unnecessary health-related absences. I was honored to receive the 2023 Martin C. Ushkow Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on School Health (COSH). Read our blog post about the special chronic absence session held during the 2023 AAP National Conference.
New classes are open for our popular e-learning series for educators! Build your team’s capacity to address today’s extremely high levels of chronic absenteeism. Register today for Spring 2024. Class dates are January 18, February 1 and February 18.
Working together, we can address today’s high levels of absenteeism and the educational inequities which have grown as a result of the pandemic.
Warmly,
Hedy Chang
Founder and Executive Director
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