Attendance

Education news, analysis, and opinion on the importance of going to school regularly and the effects of truancy or chronic absences on learning
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School & District Management Webinar
Harnessing AI to Address Chronic Absenteeism in Schools
Learn how AI can help your district improve student attendance and boost academic outcomes.
Content provided by Panorama Education
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College & Workforce Readiness Q&A Graduation Rates Might Get Worse Before They Get Better
Schools must make a convincing case for why students should show up, Robert Balfanz says.
Sarah D. Sparks, December 2, 2024
5 min read
Photo of classroom clock.
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School & District Management The 3 Reasons Why Students Lose the Most Instructional Time
States vary widely in how much instructional time they require, creating disparities that are only exacerbated by common interruptions.
Caitlynn Peetz, December 2, 2024
6 min read
An empty elementary school classroom is seen on Aug. 17, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York. Nationwide, students have been absent at record rates since schools reopened after COVID-forced closures. More than a quarter of students missed at least 10% of the 2021-22 school year.
An empty elementary school classroom is seen on Aug. 17, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York. Nationwide, students have been absent at record rates since schools reopened after COVID-forced closures. Now research suggests the phenomenon may be depressing teachers' job satisfaction.
Brittainy Newman/AP
Teaching Profession What the Research Says The More Students Miss Class, the Worse Teachers Feel About Their Jobs
Missing kids take a toll on teachers' morale, new research says. Here's how educators can cope with absenteeism.
Sarah D. Sparks, November 14, 2024
4 min read
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
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Student Well-Being Whitepaper
Addressing Chronic Absenteeism Nationwide
Together the Escondido Union School District and the National Inventors Hall of Fame® have successfully engaged students and decreased ab...
Content provided by National Inventors Hall of Fame
Scattered school desks seen from above, some with red x's on them signifying absences.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week and iStock/Getty Images
Student Well-Being Opinion 3 Things You Need to Know About Absenteeism
We studied the data from more than 1.5 million students. Here’s are some overlooked insights to boost attendance.
Todd Rogers, Emily Bailard & Mikia Manley, October 31, 2024
4 min read
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
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School Climate & Safety Webinar
Creating Harmony and Belonging as a Solution to Chronic Absenteeism
Join a webinar featuring strategies on addressing chronic absenteeism through building a sense of belonging.
Content provided by Harmony Academy
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
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How Clark County Reduced Chronic Absenteeism by 9%
As someone who’s been deeply involved in the fight to reduce chronic absenteeism in the Clark County School District (CCSD) in Nevada, I’m pleased to share how our whole-community approach is bringing students back to the classroom and improving school culture. Chronic absenteeism has plagued schools across the nation, so this challenge isn’t unique to our district—which serves a diverse and growing student population in Las Vegas and its surrounding communities—but we are using some unique tools to address it. As a result we’re seeing a shift: our district has reduced chronic absenteeism by an estimated 9% in just one academic year.
Content provided by National University
Illustration of a silhouette of a person standing on a white path that drops off into a cliff. The other side of the cliff shows a flag on the path where it picks up.
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Student Well-Being Are Schools Responsible for Students Who Avoid School? A New Lawsuit Says Yes
A class action argues that the New York City schools aren't adequately supporting students with disabilities who are school-avoidant.
Brooke Schultz, October 10, 2024
5 min read
Image of an empty desk on a red background.
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Student Well-Being Are Parents Giving Their Kids Too Many Mental Health Days?
Schools and parents need to work together to encourage kids not to take too many mental health days, experts say.
Arianna Prothero, October 3, 2024
6 min read
One person walking down stairs in motion effect photography inside building.
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Families & the Community School Attendance Suffers as Parent Attitudes Shift
Parents are more relaxed about attendance than before the pandemic, district leaders said.
Evie Blad, August 28, 2024
4 min read
Illustration about warnings, with a businessman and woman each holding a with megaphone in front of a caution symbol.
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School Climate & Safety Infographic What CDC Safety Data Reveal About School Absenteeism, in Charts
New federal data show a rising number of students feel unsafe at school.
Sarah D. Sparks, August 14, 2024
2 min read
School & District Management Webinar Getting Students Back to School and Re-engaged: What Districts Can Do 
Dive into districtwide strategies that are moving the needle on the persistent problem of chronic absenteeism and sluggish student engagement.
August 8, 2024
Photo of boy sitting alone on bench.
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School Climate & Safety What Gets in the Way of Students Feeling a Sense of Belonging at School
When students feel connected to school, they’re more likely to attend and perform well academically.
Caitlynn Peetz, July 25, 2024
4 min read