Addressing the rising tide of chronic student absenteeism

The rising tide of student absenteeism in our post-pandemic world is a challenge that educators around the world are having to face. We all know that, well before the pandemic, children have always missed school for a few days throughout the year due to a number of factors such as sickness, lack of transport, poverty-related challenges, inclement weather, etc. What is new, however, is the recent rise in the number of children who are out of school repeatedly and consistently (i.e. chronically) throughout the year.

What is considered chronic absenteeism?

Chronic absenteeism is when a child misses 10% (around 18-20 days) of the school year. An alarming report, conducted in the U.S. by Thomas Dee, an education professor at Stanford University, found that chronic absenteeism almost doubled between the 2018-19 school year (pre-pandemic) and the 2021-22 school year.

The U.S. is not alone in facing this challenge. In the U.K., government statistics have revealed that 24.2% of students were chronically absent over the autumn term of 2022 to 2023. Pre-pandemic levels of absence were only around half of that. And several other countries are reporting equally concerning figures.  

What are the repercussions of chronic absenteeism?

Before we dive into why more students are skipping school post-pandemic and what we can do about it, let’s take a moment to talk about the repercussions of chronic absenteeism. Numerous studies have shown that children who consistently skip school get significantly lower grades than those who do not. Additionally, a study published by German think-tank Institute of Labor Economics found that missing 10 math classes reduced the chance of a high school student graduating on time by 8%. This is not to mention the well-documented link between truancy, anti-social behavior, and increased violence in communities.

With such serious repercussions, both academically and otherwise, I think we can all agree that school attendance is extremely important.

So, why are more students skipping school post-COVID? Why the sudden rise?

One of the explanations put forward is that, having experienced remote learning during the pandemic, some students (and perhaps parents) no longer believe that attending school in-person is important.

However, the data does not seem to support this argument. If this were the case, we would have seen a significant increase in the number of online and hybrid schools.  Moreover, this argument does not sit well with our experience where the vast majority of our students and parents could not wait to get back to “normal” school life. In fact, if this pandemic taught us anything, it is that schools are not just a place of learning. The social enrichment they bring to students and their role in building their sense of identity and belonging are priceless.

In my opinion, the sudden rise in chronic absenteeism post-COVID can be better explained by a lack of discipline. Having been out of school for some time (the exact amount of time varies from country to country), students no longer have the discipline required to sit in a classroom and concentrate for prolonged periods of time. This lack of discipline further aggravates the loss of learning that they suffered during the pandemic.

And so begins a vicious circle that feeds itself. Children don’t learn because they lack the discipline, they fall further behind, become disengaged, and reject school.  When they are in school, they may resort to behavior that disrupts the learning for everyone and fuels bullying. This affects other students negatively and may cause them to also reject school in turn. 

What can we do about it?  

Raising awareness is key. Effectively communicating with parents, guardians, school staff, and students to raise awareness about the importance of attendance and the negative impact of absenteeism is an essential first step.

Additionally, consistency with expectations set regarding attendance is crucial. Strict attendance policies, and their fair and consistent implementation across all classrooms and all ages, will minimize absenteeism.

Last, but by no means least, creating a positive and inspiring school community and culture is fundamental. Ensuring that our students are engaged in the learning process, have an active student life, and feel safe and cared for are all vital steps to keeping our kids in school.