The Attendance Equation: Data, Relationships, and Belonging in Every School

Since the pandemic, classrooms across the country have faced an invisible crisis; students who simply aren’t showing up. Chronic absenteeism has quietly become one of the biggest barriers to learning, affecting nearly one in three public school students nationwide. Behind every absence lies a story of anxiety, inequity, or lack of access. Understanding why students are missing school is the first step toward bringing them back, both physically and emotionally, into the learning community.

The Scope of the Problem

Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of school days in a year for any reason. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, chronic absenteeism has become one of the most significant challenges facing public schools. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 28% of all public school students were chronically absent during the 2022–2023 school year. This marked a sharp increase from pre-pandemic levels, when about 16% of students were chronically absent. Students with disabilities are about 36% more likely to experience chronic absenteeism than their non-disabled peers. This pattern is seen in districts across the US, irrespective of size and location (rural, suburban, or urban).

Why Attendance Matters

Research from the National Center for Children in Poverty (Columbia University, 2008) has shown that chronic absenteeism in kindergarten is associated with lower academic achievement in first grade, and students are still experiencing the impacts by having lower academic achievement in 5th grade. In middle and high school, chronically absent students are more likely to fail courses, disengage from school, and drop out altogether.

Reasons for absenteeism vary, and without understanding these reasons, educators will be hard-pressed to develop lasting solutions. The National Association of School Psychologists defines common terms associated with attendance problems.

Understanding the Language of Absence

Chronic Absenteeism	Defined as missing 10% or more of school because of excused or unexcused absence, and/or suspension.
School Refusal	Refers to emotion-based absenteeism, most commonly child and adolescent anxiety and depression.
Truancy	Refers to unexcused absences and is a legal term associated with compulsory attendance laws that vary among states.
School Withdrawal	Refers to when a parent or legal guardian legally withdraws a child from school and includes illegal scenarios such as when a child is kept home to act as a support person for an anxious or depressed parent.
School Exclusion	Refers to school-initiated absenteeism and may involve disciplinary practices such as suspension or expulsion, or sending special education students home for behavioral problems without official documentation.

© 2023 National Association of School Psychologists

All of these reasons contribute to the rising levels of student absenteeism. It takes the full school community - all the educational partners- to address these concerns and to make sure our students receive the education they need and deserve. 

Unpacking the Causes: From Homes to Hallways

Causes of student attendance problems vary and can be lumped into factors of individual, family, school, and community. Individual factors can range from physical and mental health issues to learning and peer/social issues. Family factors can range from economic and transportation issues to caregiving for adult and child family member issues. When considering school factors, we need to consider the overall school environment, including safety, bullying, and disciplinary practices, which disproportionately impact students of color and students with disabilities. Community or societal factors can encompass all of the other challenges students face and include the availability of resources for housing, food, healthcare, etc. 

School attendance problems are not issues of just singular students. They are reflective of the overall system surrounding our schools. Reducing student attendance problems is best addressed with a team approach. All educational partners, including administrators, educators, students, families, and the community, should be part of the process. 

Data, Culture, and Connection: The Path to Solutions

Comprehensive teams need to consider the following:

• What does the data say?

  • Task: Disaggregate attendance data by grade and identifiable subgroups to identify trends.

• What do your systems look like?

  • Goal: Foster a strong, positive, and restorative culture in every school and every classroom to increase the sense of community and belonging for all students

• How strong is your greater school community?

  • Goal: Build strong relationships with families through culturally appropriate communication and activities to increase and maintain engagement in the school community.

• What community resources does your school community need?

  • Goal: Engage with community partners to address access to health care, transportation, housing, and food resources.

• How does your school community approach attendance and discipline?

  • Task: Build a comprehensive school team to look at exclusionary discipline practices, school culture, and family engagement. This team should fit within your Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports framework.

Every Day Counts, for Every Student

Improving attendance is not about blame; it’s about belonging. When schools take a data-informed, compassionate approach, they can rebuild trust, reengage families, and give every student the opportunity to thrive.

Solving student attendance problems is a community effort. Punishing students (and caregivers) for poor attendance does little to resolve the underlying problem. Educators must understand why absences are occurring and develop strategies to address the challenges. Through data-driven practices and human-centered approaches, schools can improve school attendance and ensure every student has equitable access to their education.

Need help reviewing your disciplinary practices, strengthening your climate and culture, or building your MTSS systems? Our experienced consultants can support your schools and districts through professional development training workshops, coaching sessions, and ongoing systems support. Contact Us to request a free consultation.