It’s no secret to education leaders that the United States is facing a chronic absenteeism crisis. Recent data reveals a striking surge in absenteeism rates, doubling from approximately 15% pre-pandemic in 2018 to nearly 30% in the 2021-2022 school year. Despite slight improvements since then, rates remain critically high, necessitating a deeper dive into the nuanced signs of absenteeism, the latest data-driven insights, and the innovative solutions that Alongside offers to mitigate this crisis.
Understanding Chronic Absenteeism in Today's Context
Chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of the school year, dramatically escalated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained a significant problem ever since. Absenteeism and school avoidance now severely impacts millions, with states like Michigan experiencing rates as high as 36.8% in 2021-22, up 19% from 2018-19, and New Mexico as high as 40% in 2021-22 up 22% from 2018-19. The urgency for interventions has never been more apparent.
Understanding Factors and Focusing on Prevention
The reasons behind chronic absenteeism have grown more complex, intertwining personal challenges with broader socioeconomic challenges. To slow down absenteeism rates, it’s important to understand these factors and focus on preventative approaches to help students before they develop patterns of chronic absenteeism.
Research suggests that underlying causes of school avoidance and chronic absenteeism include:
Environmental factors
- Transportation challenges and community safety
- Family health problems
- Housing instability
- The involvement with child welfare and or juvenile justice system
- Discrimination
Where Alongside can help: Alongside offers chat modules that help students seek support, learn to self-advocate, and connect with their counselor.
Academic & School Culture
- Bullying and other safety concerns
- Unwelcoming school culture
- Bored with curriculum - not motivated to learn
- School pressure - grades/test anxiety
- School staffing shortages
Where Alongside can help: Alongside offers chat modules that help students take action on bullying, manage school and test anxiety, build executive function skills, and find motivation. It also helps address staffing shortages by providing personalized support to more students without adding staff.
Personal Health - Mental and Physical
- Lack of self-acceptance/struggles with body image
- Chronic anxiety or low mood
- Challenges with disability or chronic disease/illness
Where Alongside can help: Alongside offers chat modules that help students get support on body image issues, manage anxiety and low mood, find balance, and seek support. Alongside also screens for signs that a student is in crisis and sends alerts to school support staff.
Developing Holistic Interventions
In response to the heightened challenges, our strategies must be dynamic and responsive. Beyond offering support to students through support tools like Alongside, preventative work to combat absenteeism should employ a holistic approach that includes:
- Family-School-Community Partnerships: Strengthening these ties is crucial in creating a supportive ecosystem for our students, showing them they are valued members of their immediate and extended communities.
- Health as a Keystone: Collaborating with healthcare providers to address physical and mental health challenges is more vital than ever, providing a foundation for students to engage in their educational journey fully.
- Overcoming Logistical Hurdles: Addressing transportation and housing instability is essential in ensuring every student has the opportunity to attend school, irrespective of their personal circumstances.
- Embracing Restorative Practices: The shift towards restorative justice is a beacon of hope, offering students a path to learn from their experiences within a supportive community framework.
- Stirring Engagement: Encouraging students to pursue their interests and passions within the school setting can reinvigorate their desire to attend, lighting the way for a brighter educational experience.
Weaving a School-Wide Strategy
The collective effort of educators, families, and community members is essential in crafting a safety net that supports every student. The Institute of Education Sciences offers further resources to guide schools and districts in implementing evidence-based practices, including:
- Text Messaging with Families to Support Student Attendance
- Using Data and Early Warning Systems to Improve Student Attendance and Engagement
- Partnering with Families to Support Student Attendance and Learning: Resources from the Regional Educational Laboratory Program
- Promoting a Positive School Climate and Safe Learning Conditions: Resources from the Regional Educational Laboratory Program
Embracing Technology with Alongside
Our aim at Alongside is to be a supportive partner for your school as you continue to provide education and guide the next generation. We understand the importance of nurturing their minds academically and their mental health and addressing the needs of their families and the community. We realize that schools need assistance in achieving these goals, so we are here to help.
Alongside offers immediate and accessible support through chat experiences tailored to modern students. We serve as a bridge to mental health support and help foster meaningful connections. Our services cover various topics, from navigating family dynamics and school engagement to enhancing peer and adult relationships. We meet students where they are and offer a beacon of support in their digital landscape. With understanding and action, we can chart a course toward a future where every student is engaged, supported, and present in both body and spirit.
Empower Students with Alongside's Conversations with Kiwi
As we adapt to the evolving landscape of chronic absenteeism, bolstered by data that underscores the pandemic's lasting impact on attendance, Alongside hopes to be your ally. With chat experiences meticulously crafted to address the multifaceted challenges of family dynamics, school engagement, peer support, and adult connections, Alongside's innovative approach ensures that no student navigates their journey alone. Together, we embark on a path to address absenteeism and transform the educational experience into one of connection, growth, and resilience.
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