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Chronic Absenteeism

Because chronic absenteeism is associated with poor academic performance, increased dropout rates and decreased graduation rates, districts and schools are encouraged to make sure that parents are aware of this change.

Chronically absent:
Any student in grade K-12 who misses 50 percent or more of the instructional day for any reason for 10 percent (or more) of the enrollment period.

All types of absences contribute to chronic absenteeism:

  • Excused Absences
  • Unexcused Absences
  • Suspensions
  • A student is absent if he or she is not physically on school grounds and is not participating in instruction or instruction-related activities at an approved off-grounds location for the school day

From Attendance Works, “National data from the Office for Civil Rights shows that at least 6.8 million public school students missed 15 or more days of school in 2013-14, and it affects at least 89 percent of the nation’s school districts. Several high-quality research studies show that the impact of chronic absence leads to lower achievement, disengagement and often drop out. Yet chronic absence can be reversed and, when attendance improves, student achievement is likely to improve.” Additional information for parents is available at http://www.attendanceworks.org/what-works/engagestudents-and-parents/.