Monfredo: Chronic Absenteeism ...Still a Concern
Saturday, February 21, 2015
As a system we are moving in the right direction but more can be accomplished if we concentrate on chronic absenteeism in our system. Research shows that improving student attendance is an essential, cost-effective but often overlooked strategy for ensuring our students are on track to learn and succeed. Chronic absence is a leading early warning indicator of academic trouble and later the student may become a dropout statistic. The data shows that truancy and chronic absenteeism can be precursors to school drop-outs, academic failure, and juvenile delinquency.
Currently, according to the statistics in the Worcester schools, there are about 12% of students who are chronically absent. Chronic absenteeism means students have been absent over 10% of the school year. Thus, the student was absent at least 18 days. The students who are absent the most in our school system are our high school students. On the elementary level students in the kindergarten and grade one lead the way with chronic absenteeism. Other statistics show that male Hispanics and low income students have a high rate of chronic absenteeism.
Research also shows that contributing factors to truancy and chronic absenteeism fall into four broad domains:
Individual: school phobia, learning disabilities, poor school attachments, behavior problems, perceived or real lack of safety, boredom/indifference in class, lagging schoolwork, need for employment;
Family: low family income, single-parent status, child maltreatment, parental disabilities, lack of parental involvement in education, family mobility, family care responsibilities;
District/School: district/school attendance policies, diverse student learning styles that make individualized instruction challenging , relationships between students/families and teachers; and
Community: high levels of family mobility, violence, child maltreatment, crime, drug abuse, and unemployment.
Absenteeism is not an issue that schools can handle on its own. It is a difficult problem requiring a comprehensive approach for there is no one size fits all solution. There is no silver bullet to the problem but one needs to uncover the reasons why the student has been absent so much. It is an issue that needs to be a priority in any school system and needs the help of the community.
Let me talk about a plan that the Worcester Public Schools may like to consider. First, the best predictor of chronic absenteeism is a history of continuing poor attendance. The schools need to list those students at each grade level and start putting together an individual educational plan. The schools need to partner up with community partners and figure out available resources to motivate and assist the students. The support could be in the form of a personalized welcome to school or visits to the home from teachers or a community member. The schools, as part of their plan, can assign a mentor to the students and the mentor can check in with the students daily and call home for each absence. If the student is struggling with his school work or social dynamics the mentor would be there to help. Mentors could come from the community, Big Brother / Big Sister organizations, church groups or from the colleges.
Other ideas, according to research, show that engaging programs before and after school can improve attendance. Community walk to school programs or buddies has also been helpful. Some students may need support with medical and dental or mental health challenges and again this would all be addressed in the student’s individual education plan.
As a former principal, I know that incentives work so schools should consider ways of motivating students to want to come to school. It could be in a form of a certificate from Starbucks or a special event at the school. One Middle School in New York sponsored an” AttenDance” as an incentive for attending at least 95% or 45 days in the second quarter and it worked. The principal of the schools stated, “ We have learned that steady pressure, teamwork, and an ongoing focus on attendance will produce positive results.”
As part of that team approach we need a coordinated campaign with partners who have expertise in particular areas, including efforts to address homelessness, transportation, and health. In addition, partnerships among different agencies (e.g., faith-based organizations) that leverage community supports to improve attendance such as calls home and connections to community resources is needed.
On a whole school approach attendance should be a school-wide priority from day one and continue that effort throughout the school year. School-wide strategies such as pep rallies, contests, and Student Success Summits at each school in the first month of the school year and throughout the rest of the year have also proven to work. We should also encourage all schools to celebrate good attendance at their school in a variety of ways… assemblies, notices on the intercom, names in the monthly newsletter or letters to parents of children with good attendance. In the early grades stickers are a big hit with the children too.
In conclusion, these ideas are not the answer for all schools because some schools in Worcester have developed very comprehensive plans and the school system itself has attempted to address this issue but as the data shows more needs to done.
Looking at some of the preventive measures discussed it appears that first we need to establish effective monitoring and identify the students at risk. Next we need to establish a prevention plan and intervention strategies as mentioned … incentives, mentoring, and communication with parents. The bottom line is that missing school matters a great deal, especially to our low income students. Because students reared in poverty benefit the most from being in school, one of the most effective strategies for providing pathways out of poverty is to do what it takes to get these students in school every day. This alone, even without improvements in the educational system, will drive up achievement, high school graduation, and college attainment rates.
Related Slideshow: 10 MA State Education Rankings
4th Grade Test Scores
8th Grade Test Scores
High School Dropout Rate
High School Graduation Rate
SAT Scores
High School AP Courses
Chance of Success
K-12 Achievement Index
Per Pupil Expenditure
Average Daily Attendance
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