In case you missed it, watch the recording of “Prevention & Intervention Strategies to Address Chronic Absenteeism: A Robin Webinar with guest David Adams, Urban Assembly CEO” here. And download the resource here.
In today’s evolving educational landscape, the unprecedented shifts caused by the pandemic have presented both challenges and opportunities to rethink how we engage students. One pressing issue is chronic absenteeism—defined as missing 10% or more school days annually—which surged by about 10% post-pandemic, with particularly high rates among students of color, those with disabilities, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
Chronic absenteeism has far-reaching consequences. It’s linked to lower graduation rates, delayed reading milestones, and diminished long-term success. But by focusing on building strong student relationships, enhancing school climate, and making learning meaningful, we can reverse these trends.
Key Strategies to Address Chronic Absenteeism:
- Strong Relationships: Ensure every student has at least one adult who knows them well, fostering a sense of belonging. Advisory programs are a structured way for teachers to engage students and their families on both academic and emotional levels.
- Engagement in Learning: High-quality, meaningful tasks keep students motivated. If students see the value of their work and its connection to future success, they’re more likely to show up and participate.
- Parent Involvement: Regular, positive communication that builds trust between teachers and parents, from back-to-school nights to conferences, is essential. First, we need to educate parents on the importance of school attendance and its link to positive student outcomes and partner with them to support their children in overcoming any barriers to attendance.
- Early Intervention: Schools should use early warning systems to identify and support students at risk of falling behind. Personalized interventions, such as goal-setting sessions and re-engagement rituals, can help students reconnect with school before chronic absenteeism becomes an issue.
While these strategies are powerful, there are four key constraints that schools must solve for: resources, time, knowledge, and incentives. Schools need:
- Adequate resources to support programs
- Time for teachers to build relationships and engage meaningfully with students and their families
- Knowledge to implement best practices in engagement and intervention
- Incentives to motivate students to prioritize attendance
These constraints, if addressed, will be pivotal in creating positive learning environments that promote student success.
The social and emotional aspects of learning are critical, as is the overall school climate. Positive relationships between teachers and students, coupled with restorative discipline approaches, help create environments where students feel safe and valued. Activities and extracurriculars can also play a key role, connecting students to their peers and reinforcing their sense of community.
Looking forward, the way we measure and support student progress matters. Mastery-based grading, for example, gives students more opportunities to learn and succeed, focusing on long-term understanding rather than short-term performance.
Ultimately, we need to move away from punitive approaches and focus on recognizing students’ efforts and celebrating their achievements. By building a positive, supportive environment and showing students that they are valued, we can help them see the importance of attendance and engagement—and ensure their success in the classroom and beyond.