Chronic Absenteeism
During the 2023-2024 school year, 68,000 students, or 22% of Nebraska students were chronically absent. Chronic absence disproportionately affects students with disabilities, students of color, and students who are economically disadvantaged. Chronic absence also affects students in early grades and those in later grades.
Chronic absence is defined as missing 10% of a child’s time in membership. It counts all absences: excused, unexcused, and suspensions. Most importantly, chronic absence emphasizes the academic impact of the missed days.
Below are some communication resources to support leaders, teachers, and parents.
Visit https://www.attendanceworks.org/ for more resources to support you in identifying potential root causes, strategies and evidence-based interventions to address chronic absenteeism in your school community.
- Worksheet: Understanding the root causes for student absenteeism
https://www.attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/teacher-attendance-strategy-worksheet-rev-10-16-19.pdf - Three tiers of interventions:
https://www.attendanceworks.org/chronic-absence/addressing-chronic-absence/3-tiers-of-intervention/
The foundational, whole school supports that promote positive learning conditions include:
- Healthy learning environments
- Access to food and other basic needs
- Safe and welcoming schools
- Enrichment activities and clubs
- Challenging and engaging curriculum
- Advisories or meetings to build community
- Positive relationships
- Traditions and celebrations
- Multi-tiered systems of supports
- Active student and family engagement
- Support for families to facilitate learning at home
Tier 1, universal supports available to all students should include:
- Clear, concise and consistent communication about schedules and expectations
- Routines, rituals and celebrations related to attendance, improvement, and engagement
- Personalized positive communication to families when students are absent
- Impact of attendance on whole child widely understood
- Connection to a caring adult in the school
Tier 2, early intervention supports, to support those students who are moderately chronically absent (students missing 10-19% of school), include:
- Common community and school barriers identified and addressed
- Individualized student success plan that includes attention to attendance
- Family visits
- Staff and peer mentors
- Restorative alternatives to discipline and suspension
The Tier 3 intensive interventions, recommended for those students who are severely chronically absent (students missing 20% or more of school) include:
- Educational support champions/advocates
- Interagency case management
- Student attendance review board
- Individualized learning and success plan leading to graduation
- Legal Intervention (as a last resort)
- Early Matters: Integrating Attendance into Kindergarten Transition
- FutureEd: Attendance Playbook: Smart Solutions for Reducing Student Absenteeism Post-Pandemic
- Healthy Schools Campaign: Addressing Health Related Chronic Absenteeism
- IES REL West: Data Visualization Can Help Educators Address Chronic Absence
- National Association of School Nurses (NASN): Addressing Illness-Related Chronic Absences
- National Association of State Boards of Education: Examining Chronic Absence Through A Student Health Lens
- National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance: A randomized experiment using absenteeism information to “nudge” attendance
- NTV: Special Report: Truancy, Schools, and Covid-19
- Nebraska State Board of Education Resolution for Attendance Awareness
- NTV: Grand Island Public Schools: Chronic Absence: Schools Tackle Hidden Crisis
- School Health Updates: NDE Presentation on Chronic Absence