The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

Why student absences aren't the real problem in America's 'attendance crisis'

  • Written by Jaymes Pyne, Quantitative Research Associate, Stanford University
Why student absences aren't the real problem in America's 'attendance crisis'

Nationally, one in six children miss 15 or more days of school in a year and are considered chronically absent[1]. Education officials have lamented that all this missed instruction has for years[2] constituted an attendance crisis in U.S. elementary, middle and high schools.

The fear among policymakers is that these chronically absent students suffer academically because of all the classroom instruction they miss out on. In 2015, the U.S. secretary of education and other federal officials responded to this perceived crisis, urging communities to “support every student, every day to attend and be successful in school[.]” Their open letter[3] stated that missing 10% of school days in a year for any reason – excused or unexcused – “is a primary cause of low academic achievement.”

Worrying about whether children attend school makes sense. After all, if students don’t show up, teachers can’t teach them.

But what if America’s attendance crisis is about much more than students missing class? What if, instead, it is a reflection of family and community crises these students face – such as being evicted from the family apartment, fearing for their safety in their neighborhood or suffering an illness? These circumstances can both limit children’s academic achievement and keep them from getting to school.

Excused vs. unexcused absences

As social scientists[4] who study inequality in schools[5], and an education researcher and school district leader[6], we investigated how excused and unexcused absences relate to children’s academic achievement[7].

Excused absences are those for which a parent or guardian contacts the school, or responds to the school’s request for information, explaining why the child is not or won’t be in class. If that doesn’t happen, the child is marked “unexcused.”

Our study tracks how both types of absences are linked to elementary school reading and math test scores in Madison, Wisconsin, which is home to a diverse urban public school district[8].

We show that absences excused by a parent or guardian do little to harm children’s learning over the school year. In fact, children with no unexcused absences – but 15 to 18 excused absences – have test scores on par with their peers who have no absences.

Meanwhile, the average child with even just one unexcused absence does much worse academically than peers with none. For example, the average student in our study with no unexcused absences is at the 58th percentile of math test scores. The average student with one unexcused absence is at the 38th percentile of math test, and the average student with 18 unexcused absences is at the 17th percentile.

Two men in suits walk through a school gymnasium where adults are seated in rows of chairs
Department of Education officials visit a Washington, D.C., school in 2015 to announce a national initiative to address and eliminate chronic absenteeism. Evelyn Hockstein/The Washington Post via Getty Images[9]

Signals of family crisis

Does this mean schools shouldn’t worry about a student’s education as long as a parent calls in each time the child misses class?

Not exactly.

But our findings don’t make sense if absence from school affects achievement mainly because kids miss class time.

That is most apparent when considering the relationship between 18 unexcused absences and test score achievement. Accounting for differences among students unrelated to the current year of instruction – including their health conditions, prior academic achievement and family education and income – explains 88% of that relationship. That means children with so many unexcused absences would almost certainly have similarly low test scores even if their parents called in or if they had attended school more regularly.

Instead, we believe unexcused absence is a strong signal of the many challenges children and families face outside of school. Those challenges include economic[10] and medical[11] hardships and insecurity with food[12], transportation[13], family[14] and housing[15]. Unexcused absences can be a powerful signal of how those out-of-school challenges affect children’s academic progress.

[Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter[16].]

Policy changes

To be clear, our evidence suggests unexcused absences are problematic, but for a different reason than people often think. Absence from school, and especially unexcused absence, matters mainly as a signal of many crises children and their families may be facing. It matters less as a cause of lower student achievement due to missed instruction.

How researchers and the public choose to think of school absences matters for educational policy. National, state and school district attendance policies typically hold schools[17] and families[18] accountable for all of the days children miss, regardless of whether they were excused or unexcused absences.

These policies assume that missing school for any reason harms children academically because they are missing classroom instruction. They also assume that schools will be able to effectively intervene to increase academic achievement by reducing student absences. We find neither to be the case.

As a result, these attendance policies end up disproportionately punishing families[19] dealing with out-of-school crises in their lives and pressuring schools[20] who serve them to get students to school more often.

We instead suggest using unexcused absence from school as a signal to channel resources to the children and families who need them most.

References

  1. ^ chronically absent (www2.ed.gov)
  2. ^ for years (www.latimes.com)
  3. ^ open letter (www2.ed.gov)
  4. ^ social scientists (scholar.google.com)
  5. ^ inequality in schools (scholar.google.com)
  6. ^ education researcher and school district leader (www.madison.k12.wi.us)
  7. ^ relate to children’s academic achievement (doi.org)
  8. ^ diverse urban public school district (www.madison.k12.wi.us)
  9. ^ Evelyn Hockstein/The Washington Post via Getty Images (www.gettyimages.com)
  10. ^ economic (www.nature.com)
  11. ^ medical (www.cdc.gov)
  12. ^ food (pediatrics.aappublications.org)
  13. ^ transportation (doi.org)
  14. ^ family (doi.org)
  15. ^ housing (learningpolicyinstitute.org)
  16. ^ Sign up for our weekly newsletter (theconversation.com)
  17. ^ schools (www.edweek.org)
  18. ^ families (www.shouselaw.com)
  19. ^ punishing families (www.shouselaw.com)
  20. ^ pressuring schools (www.edweek.org)

Read more https://theconversation.com/why-student-absences-arent-the-real-problem-in-americas-attendance-crisis-170063

The Times Features

How to Choose the Perfect Outdoor Lift for Your Home

Choosing the right outdoor lift for your home is a decision that blends functionality, aesthetics, and safety. Outdoor lifts not only enhance mobility but also increase the value...

The Importance of Pre-Purchase Building Inspections

Purchasing a property is quite possibly one of the most significant financial decisions you'll ever make. The allure of a new home or investment can often overshadow the necessit...

The Legal Battle Against IP Theft: What Businesses Need to Know

So you've formulated that million-dollar idea and you're ready to take your business to the next level. You were so excited to publicize your supposedly next big thing that you...

Why Roof Replacement Is the Best Solution for Roofs with Major Leaks

When your roof is leaking extensively, the situation can be both frustrating and worrying. The constant drip-drip-drip of water, the potential for structural damage, and the risi...

Some vegetables are pretty low in fibre. So which veggies are high-fibre heroes?

Many people looking to improve their health try to boost fibre intake by eating more vegetables. But while all veggies offer health benefits, not all are particularly high i...

Why Your Tennis Game Isn’t Improving (And How to Fix It)

Tennis is a sport that demands precision, endurance, strategy, and mental toughness. Whether you play casually or competitively, you may reach a frustrating point where your prog...

Times Magazine

Why You Should Choose Digital Printing for Your Next Project

In the rapidly evolving world of print media, digital printing has emerged as a cornerstone technology that revolutionises how businesses and creative professionals produce printed materials. Offering unparalleled flexibility, speed, and quality, d...

What to Look for When Booking an Event Space in Melbourne

Define your event needs early to streamline venue selection and ensure a good fit. Choose a well-located, accessible venue with good transport links and parking. Check for key amenities such as catering, AV equipment, and flexible seating. Pla...

How BIM Software is Transforming Architecture and Engineering

Building Information Modeling (BIM) software has become a cornerstone of modern architecture and engineering practices, revolutionizing how professionals design, collaborate, and execute projects. By enabling more efficient workflows and fostering ...

How 32-Inch Computer Monitors Can Increase Your Workflow

With the near-constant usage of technology around the world today, ergonomics have become crucial in business. Moving to 32 inch computer monitors is perhaps one of the best and most valuable improvements you can possibly implement. This-sized moni...

Top Tips for Finding a Great Florist for Your Sydney Wedding

While the choice of wedding venue does much of the heavy lifting when it comes to wowing guests, decorations are certainly not far behind. They can add a bit of personality and flair to the traditional proceedings, as well as enhancing the venue’s ...

Avant Stone's 2025 Nature's Palette Collection

Avant Stone, a longstanding supplier of quality natural stone in Sydney, introduces the 2025 Nature’s Palette Collection. Curated for architects, designers, and homeowners with discerning tastes, this selection highlights classic and contemporary a...

LayBy Shopping