The issue of chronic absenteeism is highlighted as a major concern for public schools in a recent report. As high school seniors prepare to graduate, school leaders are focused on addressing this issue to ensure students can graduate on time. Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of instruction time, has become a significant problem, with rates increasing in recent years.
According to a report by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), chronic absenteeism was at about 15% in 2019 and has since risen to an average of 26% in 2023. The report attributes this increase to a cultural problem that has been exacerbated by the pandemic. States like Arizona have seen rates as high as 48%, while others like Alabama have reported lower rates at 18%.
To combat this issue, the Indiana Department of Education is implementing an “Early Warning System” to track attendance and graduation rates. The goal is to provide real-time data to administrators, educators, and parents to improve attendance and reduce chronic absenteeism. Nationally, the Biden administration and nonprofit organizations are launching public awareness campaigns to address this issue.
Efforts to decrease absentee rates include home visits to chronically absent students, making school more engaging, and investing in community schools that provide additional support to families. The U.S. Department of Education has also announced grant programs to boost student engagement and decrease absenteeism. In the coming years, federal leaders plan to allocate $8 billion to address attendance and achievement gaps across the country.
Attendance Works, a national nonprofit, is actively promoting strategies to improve attendance through their Attendance Awareness Campaign. Webinars and resources are available to help school districts implement creative solutions to enhance student attendance. Please rewrite this sentence.
Source link
