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Present Danger: Solving the Deepening Student Absenteeism Crisis.
Jordan, Phyllis W.
Technical Report
12 p.
Copyright
Published: May 2021
Georgetown University FutureEd
McCourt School of Public Policy
600 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: (202) 687-0880
Fax: (202) 687-3110
Available From:https://www.future-ed.org/
View: https://www.future-ed.org/present-danger-solving-the-deepening-student-absenteeism-crisis/
Download: https://www.future-ed.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/REPORT_Present_Danger_Final.pdf
This report discusses the findings and implications of a detailed analysis of absenteeism during the COVID-19 pandemic in five school districts serving nearly 450,000 students in the South, Southwest, and West, including substantial proportions of low-income students of color. It examines the scope of the student absenteeism crisis, explores its cases and consequences, and provides policymakers and practitioners with recommendations. Findings from the analysis indicate: a sevenfold increase in the number of students missing 50% or more of the school year during the pandemic; in one school district with nearly 100,000 students, the percentage of students absent half the school year rose from .9% in 2019-20 to 7% in 2020-21; there were sharply higher absences among young children; disadvantaged students have missed more school than their peers in the past year, exacerbating pre-pandemic disparities in attendance and achievement; the decline in attendance has accompanied a precipitous drop in school enrollment; the definition of attendance varied, with some districts counting a student as present if they logged in for even a minute of time and others requiring a half day’s online participation; and first and second graders suffered the steepest declines in reading skill during the pandemic. Federal funding for addressing student learning loss is explained and recommendations for addressing absenteeism are offered for local, State, and federal policymakers, and address: evidence-based interventions, ensuring the right school climate, community collaboration, and data tracking. 46 references.
Keywords:
COVID-19; DISASTER RESPONSE; SCHOOLS; SCHOOL CHILDREN; SCHOOL LINKED SERVICES; SCHOOL PERSONNEL; SCHOOLS ROLE; STUDENTS; TEACHERS