Chronic Absence FAQ

Q: What is chronic absence?

A: Chronic absence is defined as missing 10% or more of a school year. Think about it this way:

There are 180 days in the school year

Missing 18 days a year is 10%

Missing 18 days in 9 months of schools equals...

Missing 2 days of school each month

Missing only two days of school a month makes a student chronically absent. It may not seem like much,
but two days each month adds up!

Did you know?

Q: Is chronic absence different than truancy?

A: Yes! Truancy indicates intentional or unexcused absence. Chronic absence

includes unexcused, excused, and days missed from suspension. Any absence from school, regardless of reason, is counted in chronic absence.

Q: Why does chronic absence matter?

A: Nationally, up to 7.5 million students are chronically absent. Multiple
years of chronic absence at any point in a students career is a forewarning
of academic trouble. Research shows that chronically absent students are
less likely to succeed academically, are more likely to be suspended, and are
more likely to eventually dropout. In fact, 3 out of 4 6th graders who are
chronically absent will never graduate high school. By working to prevent chronic absence, we are working to give our students a brighter future.

Children living in poverty

are more likely to be
chronically absent at a
young age because of
barriers such as: a lack of
access to health care,
housing insecurity, and
unreliable transportation.
These students are more
likely to suffer academically
from missed days because
their families often lack the
resources to make up for
lost time.

Q: Why dont schools typically monitor it?

A: According to the law in Pennsylvania, schools are only required to monitor average daily attendance (ADA) and
truancy. However, both ADA and truancy can mask a bigger problem. Schools with ADAs of 95% can still
have significant chronic absence . Failing to look at chronic absence data can mean lost opportunities to intervene
before students require expensive remediation or drop out. Tracking attendance prompts timely response and
allows school staff to work together with families and community partners to prevent students from missing so
much school that they fall behind and lose hope of ever succeeding academically.

This information and much more can be found on AttendanceWorks.org

Chronic Absence Fact Sheet

Numbers dont lie. And the numbers on chronic absence are startling.
Heres why attendance matters.

General
Average daily attendance can mask chronic absence rates.

A school with 95% ADA could still have a 20% chronic absence rate.

The first month of school usually sets the tone for students future attendance behavior.

Students who missed 5 or more days of school in September were 16 times as likely to be
chronically absent the rest of the year.

Students living in poverty have a higher risk of having poor attendance.

Low-income youth are 4 times more likely than their middle-class peers to be chronically absent.

Elementary School
Students who are chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade are less likely to read
proficiently by the time they finish 3rd grade.

17% read on grade level compared to 62% who attended regularly in a California study
Students who aren't reading proficiently are 4 times more likely to drop out of high school.

Middle School
By 6th grade, chronic absence is an indicator that a student may drop out of high school.

60% of high school drop-outs were chronically absent in 6th grade in a Baltimore study.

The transition from 8th grade to 9th grade is often a make-or-break year for students.

A Chicago study found that students had 4 times as many unexcused absences in 9th grade
compared to 8th grade.

High School
Chronic absence is a red alert that students are headed for academic trouble.

A study in Utah found that students who were chronically absent any year between 8th and 12th
grade were more than 7 times more likely to drop out.
79% of kids in the juvenile justice system in NYC in 2010 had records of chronic absenteeism.

This information and much more can be found on AttendanceWorks.org

Tips to Improve Attendance

For Students
Establish daily routines: Pack your backpack the night before. Always try to
get a good nights sleep. Set multiple alarms if you have trouble waking up.
Have a back-up plan for getting to school: Know what to do or who to call if
you miss the bus. When you are running late, find a way to get to school; dont
just skip. It is better to be tardy than to be absent.
Talk to someone you trust: Whether its a teacher, parent, coach, or counselor, let someone know if you are having problems at school. They are here to help.

For Parents
Make school a priority: Stress the importance of getting to school, on
time, everyday. Make every day school attendance an expectation. Do
not let your child skip unless he/she is truly sick.
Communicate with your childs school: Tell staff about any barriers your family has
getting to school. Talk to teachers if you notice any changes in your childs behavior.
Attend open houses, parent-teacher conferences, and PSCC meetings.
Avoid conflicting schedules: Try not to schedule medical appointments during the
school day. Do not plan extended vacations or trips during the school year.

For Educators
Build positive relationships: Get to know your students and their families. Consider
providing mentors for students. Reach out when a student is struggling.
Monitor Chronic Absence: Dont rely on Average Daily Attendance
rates. Track both unexcused and excused absences.
Offer incentives: Encourage students by offering prizes or rewards for
good attendance. Recognize students with good and improved attendance.

This information and much more can be found on AttendanceWorks.org