A Note from the Executive Director

Once a little known concept, chronic absence is now in the news everywhere. Policymakers are paying attention. In January, student attendance was named by the U.S. Department of Education (USED) as a priority focus for states, districts and schools to address lagging student academic achievement and well-being. 

A new report by the nonprofit think tank, American Enterprise Institute notes, “The urgent need to recover from pandemic learning loss will be severely hampered by current rates of chronic absenteeism, making it the most pressing post-pandemic problem in public schools.”  

At the same time, early data available from at least 39 states for the 2022-23 school year show that chronic absence, while slightly decreased, remains extraordinarily high. Changing this situation will require a concerted effort by all of us: schools, communities, students and families.  

Given the challenges that have occurred over the past few years, we believe the following strategies are especially critical to implement. 

To find out more about the size and scale of the challenge, including in your own state, and what can be done, read our blog series, Turning Back the Tide: The Critical Role of States In Reducing Chronic Absenteeism, and the first two articles, Rising Tide of Chronic Absence Challenges Schools and All Hands on Deck: Today’s Chronic Absenteeism Requires A Comprehensive District Response and Strategy.

Watch for the launch of the 2024 Attendance Awareness Campaign. We will share key materials during the first of our four-part webinar series to be held on April 3, at 12 pm PT / 3 pm ET. Stay tuned for registration details!

Warmly,

Hedy Chang

Founder and Executive Director

We collaborated with the Western Educational Equity Assistance Center (WEEAC) at WestEd on a Quick Start Guide with six steps local, tribal and state educators can implement to improve attendance and engagement at school. 

Prepare to prevent a lag in attendance by sending a letter home or planning events that make school hard to miss. Check out our Spring Slump resources. 

Take steps to reduce unnecessary health related absences. Find handouts for educators to share with families to keep students healthy and in school as well as make good decisions about when a child should stay home due to illness.

Noting that federal Covid relief funds are still available, USED is encouraging states and districts to request additional time to spend American Rescue Plan funds. Once a request is approved, USED notes in a FAQ that states and districts are allowed to spend the funds through March 28, 2026, as long as the money has been obligated by Sept. 30 of this year. Read more in this K12-Dive article. 

School nurses are often well-positioned to identify students at risk for chronic school absenteeism, according to a study by Knoo Lee at University of Missouri. The finding could help schools implement assessments and interventions to support students who are at risk for frequently missing school.

There is still time to register for Healthy Schools Campaign informational webinar on Feb. 15 featuring state and school leaders. Hear how federal grants can be used to implement, enhance and expand Medicaid-funded school health services.

Calling school leaders! Join us on Feb. 27 at 4 pm ET / 1 pm PT for Overcoming Chronic Absenteeism: Solutions for School Leaders, a webinar with the American Federation of School Administrators, the National Association of Elementary School Principals and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. Hear about strategies to improve attendance that involve the entire school community. 

Join the National PBIS Center, Attendance Works and a panel of educators during Better Together: Integrating Attendance and Behavior on Wednesday, March 6. Panelists will share their strategies for combining efforts to create systems that support good attendance and behavior.

Save the date! We're teaming up with Flamboyan Foundation, Learning Heroes and NASFCE for the webinar, Family Engagement + Attendance: Two Sides of the Same Coin, on March 28 at 3pm ET. Registration coming soon.

Attendance Works also offers fee-based consulting services tailored to individual state agencies, school districts and schools, in addition to free resources and strategies. Find out more. 

How to fix chronic absenteeism in America's schools, WBUR, February 1, 2024

One-on-one outreach shows promise in cutting school absenteeism, Stateline, February 1, 2024

Ballooning chronic absenteeism requires state intervention, K-12 Dive, January 31, 2024

Chronic absenteeism is up across the country. School leaders are trying to address why, PBS, January 17, 2024

White House urges schools to address absenteeism amid troubling data, The Washington Post, January 18, 2024

Reducing today’s high levels of chronic absence requires a continual focus on engagement, support and the rebuilding of routines. Donate today and help propel the push for a full educational recovery for all kids and youth.