Research on Reducing Chronic Absenteeism

Introduction to Chronic Absenteeism

  • Definition: Chronic absenteeism occurs when students miss 10% or more of the academic year.

  • Context: A noticeable increase has been observed across schools in the wake of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly due to extended closures in 2020.

Research Overview

  • Study Conducted By:

    • Organizations involved: Learning Heroes and TNTP.

    • Scholars involved: Karen Mapp (Harvard’s Graduate School of Education) and Todd Rogers (Kennedy School of Government).

  • Key Findings: Schools with strong family engagement prior to the pandemic have experienced lower rates of chronic absenteeism compared to those with weaker family ties.

Importance of Family Engagement

  • Concept: Family engagement includes trust between parents and teachers, involvement in school activities, and the ability of parents to influence school decision-making.

  • Statistical Findings:

    • Schools with high family engagement experienced chronic absenteeism rates about 6 percentage points lower post-pandemic than similar schools with less engagement.

    • Family engagement is portrayed as critical for academic success and attendance, reinforcing the notion that strong bonds between schools and families can mitigate absenteeism.

  • Analogous Effects: The study also references previous research which consistently shows that parental involvement leads to improved academic outcomes across various demographics, including race and socio-economic status.

Comparison of Pre-Pandemic and Pandemic Effects

  • Pre-Pandemic Data Analysis (2018-2019):

    • Although the effect size was about half compared to pandemic influences, a positive correlation between family engagement and reduced chronic absenteeism was still noted.

    • Anticipation of Greater Future Effects: Given current challenges, the researchers predict that fostering family engagement can yield significant benefits in the future.

Research Methodology

  • Study Design: This research constitutes the first phase of a three-part project.

  • Quantitative Analysis:

    • Sample Size: Over 3,000 schools in Illinois.

    • Rationale: Illinois was selected for its representation of diverse racial, income, age, religious backgrounds, and education levels in the U.S.

  • Measurement Tools:

    • 5Essentials Survey: Developed by the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research, it measures five key areas linked to school success:

    • Effective leaders

    • Collaborative teachers

    • Involved families

    • Supportive environments

    • Ambitious instruction

    • The “involved families” section assesses aspects such as parent influence, involvement, and trust.

  • Statistical Modeling:

    • Schools scoring in the 10th percentile (high family engagement) were compared to those in the 90th percentile (low engagement), controlling for other factors influencing student outcomes (e.g., poverty rates).

Key Findings from the Data

  • Chronic Absenteeism Comparison (2019-2022):

    • Schools with strong family engagement saw a 39% smaller increase in chronic absenteeism than their lower engagement counterparts during the observed period.

    • Attendance rates were 25% better in schools with robust family engagement.

    • The effects were stable across various school sizes, grade levels, and poverty rates.

  • Proportional Increase in Absenteeism:

    • The percentage of students in schools with high or extreme absenteeism increased from 26% in the 2017-2018 school year to 66% in the 2021-2022 school year.

  • Academic Performance Correlation:

    • Research indicates that students from schools with higher family engagement are not only more likely to take standardized tests but also perform significantly better, achieving, on average:

    • 27% better in English

    • 37% better in Math

Future Research Directions

  • Upcoming Phases:

    • Phase Two: Qualitative analysis of selected schools to identify specific strategies adopted to enhance family engagement.

    • Phase Three: Design and testing of a tool to help schools measure family engagement and its effectiveness.

Significance of Findings

  • Action Implications: The findings suggest that investing in family engagement strategies could be an effective intervention to combat chronic absenteeism.

  • Quote from Eyal Bergman: "What this data reveal is that there are ways to mitigate chronic absenteeism. Schools that actually have invested in building strong family engagement are seeing improvements in their chronic absenteeism."

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