Upsurge in Absences from School

Upsurge in Absences from School

Absenteeism is a growing nationwide problem for students and educators alike. When a student misses class he misses out on the building blocks necessary to be a successful student. Without consistent attendance the student puts himself at risk for a variety of problems such as: poor grades, low self esteem, poor attitude, and dropout status.

In addition to having a negative effect on the student, teachers suffer as well. Arranging for make-up work or exams place an extra burden on an already taxed teaching staff. Administrator time is also stretched as attempts to locate and conference with students who are developing a pattern of absenteeism are worked into already busy schedules.

In most states the entire school suffers as a result of student absenteeism. Daily attendance figures correspond to the amount of state funding a school will receive. This means less money for equipment and supplies and perhaps even personnel. Less resources often translate into less effective schools.

Many educators believe there is an epidemic of absenteeism and that parents are to blame in many cases. It seems that more and more parents are allowing their children to miss school for a variety of flimsy excuses. They are consenting to allow their son or daughter to miss school because of family vacations, shopping trips, late night concerts, getting haircuts, mental health days, getting ready for proms, etc.

Typically, the common categories for absences are:

• "excused" for illness, deaths in the family or religious holidays;

• "unexcused" for those without parental permission; and "modified" or

• "explained" for reasons left to a parent's discretion, such as doctor appointments or college visits.

In Akron, Ohio (USA) educators examined attendance rates and reading scores on a standardized test. They found that the schools with the best attendance scored almost 25 percent higher than the schools with the worst attendance. As also would be expected, they discovered that the children whose families struggle because they earn less income are the ones missing the most days. Visit the Summit Educational Initiative for more information about the cost of missing school:

To combat the problem, some schools are developing policies that limit absences to a fixed number per semester, excused or unexcused. When students exceed the determined number, their classroom standing is affected. Other schools are sending warning letters home to parents. In Illinois (USA), if you receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and your children are in first through eighth grades, your child's attendance pattern can affect the school's funding.

In Florida (USA), schools have to report to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the names, birth dates, sex and social security numbers of minors who attain the age of 14 and accumulate 15 unexcused absences in a period of 90 calendar days. This would also include students who withdraw from school.

These students will have a Notice of Intent to Suspend posted to their driver record and unlicensed minors may not apply for a license until attendance requirements are satisfied.

Last year 15,000 students were referred to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for failure to comply with school attendance. According to the latest statistics, this program has been proven effective as a deterrent for youngsters under 18 years of age to leave school. You can learn more about Florida's driver's license and school attendance program at the Dade County Schools Website.

Akron (Ohio, USA) Public Schools currently run three programs aimed at improving attendance and preventing attendance problems. These include an attendance mediation program that flags children who are beginning to have attendance problems, a case management for elementary school children program who are having problems, and a program that provides intense support and follow up for middle school students with severe attendance problems.

The Advantage Press can be a good resource for students missing school. Discipline packets in our detention and suspension programs address cutting class and truancy. The Advantage Press also addresses some of the early signs of truancy with their "Late to School," "Late to Class," and "Uncooperative Attitude," packets. These and other discipline packets provide students with logical and constructive learning activities while they are serving time in detention, suspension or even the office. Packets are designed to help students make positive changes through self-evaluation and goal-setting.